Courtesy of Samoa Observer.

For three millennia, the people of Samoa have been taking to their surrounding waters.

And now Seti Afoa is taking that cultural heritage and expanding it in a friendly, international, competitive environment. He is one very busy man with a grand vision to make Samoa a South Pacific nation that brings local and foreign swimmers together in a number of events in Samoa, all supported by the local police, the Red Cross, the national health service, government and tourism officials, and most importantly, the people of the local villages.

The host and organizer of Samoa Events, Afoa is the race director for the Samoa Swim Series, the Five Islands Challenge, the Upolu-Savaii Swim, the Savai’i Excursion, and the Pacific Open Water Challenge, a total of 18 races, not including triathlons.

The Samoa Swim Series comprises of the following events:

*Samoa Swim Series Swim 1 – August 6th, point-to-point 2 km and 4 km swims at Faga lagoon, Savai’i
*Family Swim dash
*Team’s Relay: Kids & Family 400m swim (Manase) and 400×400 Teams Relay
*Samoa Swim Series Swim 2 – August 7th, point-to-point 2.5 km and 4 km swims from Fagamalo to Tanu Beach Fales at Manase
*Family Dash: 200m and 400m Kids & Beginners, 600 x 600 Teams Relay
*Samoa Swim Series Swim 3 – August 8th, point-to-point 2 km and 4 km swims from Mulivai Beach to the Sinalei beach
*Teams Relay and 200m and 400m Kids & Beginners Swim

The Upolu-Savai’i Swim is a 22.3 km inter-island marathon swim across the Apolima Strait between Samoa’s main islands of Upolu and Savai]i held on August 7th. The swim has two reserve days on April 8th-9th. The qualifications require that participants must have completed a 10 km open water swimming non-wetsuit race in under 4 hours 30 minutes.

The Five Islands Challenge (aka The Five Islands) includes a total of 24 km in distance and 5 ocean swims conducted over 4 days between May 11th – 14th. The 5 ocean swims include the following swims:

Swim 1: 7.4 km (4.6-mile) Manono Island Swim on May 11th. It is a return swim (out-and-back swim) to Manono Island: 3.7 km (2.3 miles) one way and the same on the return.
Swim 2: 5 km (3.1-mile) Fanuatapu – Namu’a Islands Swim on May 12th. The swim starts on the mainland and out to Fanuatapu Island, then a sharp left to finish at Namu’a Island.
Swim 3: 5 km (3.1-mile) Namu’a Island to Lalomanu Swim on May 12th as part 2 of Day 2. Start at Namu’a Island and swim to Lalomanu.
Swim 4: 5.3 km (3.3-mile) Nu’usafe’e Island Swim on May 13th. Start at Tafatafa and go with the current to Nu’usafe’e island before heading to the finish at Poutasi village.
Swim 5: 3.5 km (2.2-mile) Matautu Island Swim on May 14th. Start and finish in the deep sheltered water of Falefa Bay.
Reserve swim: 4 km course on Albatross Island at Saoluafata Bay.

The 2-race Pacific Open Water Challenge includes a 5 km ocean swim and a 10 km marathon swim: *10 km race is held on August 1st in Saoluafata Harbour, 20 km east of Apia. The 10 km course is four 2.5 km loops in a sheltered harbour that is suitable for all weather. There is mandatory feeding after every 2.5 km loop.
*5 km course is a point-to-point ocean swim on August 2nd from Sauano village to Falefa Village. It is mandatory to use a visible personal swim float / buoy. The alternate course is on Falefa Bay.

The Savai’i Excursion is a backend 4-day swim holiday option to the Samoa Swim Series, for relaxation in this unspoiled part of the Pacific Ocean. In addition to sightseeing, relaxation, tours and easy swims, there are nightly drinks at Jane’s Bar on the beach in the setting sun. Three time ocean swimming races are included in the Savai’i Excursion held between August 7th – 11th.

Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association