The captains of four fautasi crews have claimed the finishing line buoys were moved a night before the race, which put them at a disadvantage on race day.

In an interview with the media on Friday after the race, the captain of the Don Bosco fautasi, Segavao, Vaimasenu'u Zita Martel said the finishing line was not where it was supposed to be on the day of the race.

"The buoy was moved, the finish line. I expected the buoy to be further away from the yellow one because we had the buoy or the markers all this time during training and this was changed just last night (the night before the race) and we didn't know," she said.

"So I was just looking for that buoy and I realised I was outside the buoy so I had to steer the boat back in because I didn't want to be disqualified.

"But that buoy was moved just last night because it was right in front of the bridge the whole time we were training. It was in front of Samoa Shipping Corporation.

"So we directed back inside because we did not want to finish outside the finishing line. Marist did not come in between the buoys because they were also expecting the same thing and I saw and I was like, 'Oh my god that would've been me too'."

Samoa Observer understands that the captains of the other fautasi crews agreed and raised similar concerns, saying they should've been made aware of the changes before the race started.

This newspaper contacted a member of the Independence Committee, Commissioner of the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority, Tanuvasa Petone Pauga for comment on the issue.

He said the captains should document their complaints properly and submit them to the committee.

"The best person to speak to is the police commissioner as he was supervising the fautasi race but just to help you out, I understand that for such complaints, they have to document them properly and submit it to the committee for consideration," he said. "But I only look after the entertainment and that side of things for the independence but the best person is Auapaau."

Attempts by this newspaper to contact the Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo over the weekend were unsuccessful.

Despite the concerns, the captain of the Telefoni o le Vainuu, which came third in the race, Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt said it was a spectacular performance by Telefoni as they have been missing in action for over a decade.

"It's an amazing experience. I take my hat off to Tolotolo and Don Bosco. Everyone was in it to win it yes but it just wasn't meant to be," he said. "These were the three boats that were basically in the front right from the start and I think for half of the race we were pretty much willing and we gave it away as we were getting close to Mulinu'u.

"It's been over 10 years since the Telefoni had been on the ocean to compete and we're back this time to revive what our government has in plan for us, so we thank our government for the initiative to revive what we used to do.

"This will not be the first time you will watch the Telefoni compete, we will prepare the crew for another competition if the government approves for another regatta in the Teuila festival.

"We will strive again for the first spot as most dreamt of but for the race today, I give my congratulations to the brother, Pauli Ivann."