I was always fascinated by all the boats on the river … we could eventually name every boat (that had a name) as it went by on the Demerara. I especially liked speed boats. When everyone else in kindergarten was making animals with Pasticine, I was modeling speed boats. We got to play with Plasticine every day, so I made a lot of speed boats. I also remember my Dad building a speed boat in the late 50’s (the last one described below), and riding in it was a big thrill. I knew boats were a big deal in Guyana and my Dad had been into boats long before I arrived, so I recently asked him about his previous boats. Here is what he recounted: (curtesy of Katy and Evan Wong)
Guyana means land of many waters — and, with no roads, boating was big business. The big “bateaus” started out to be paddled — they were 30 to 50 feet long. As technology moved in, they were powered by outboard motors and old motorcar engines. These bateaus ran the rapids and hauled cargo into the interior, and ferried the prospectors, or “pork knockers” into the interior of the country. As you know, EW&S and Ho-a-shoo both ran big bateau fleets. Evan Wong flew the famous gold flag with a white diamond, standing for his gold and diamond businesses. Bartica, the confluence of the three major rivers, Essequibo, Mazaruni and Cuyuni, was the jumping off point for these bateaus. That was as far up the Essequibo as the ocean going steamers could go, and the bateaus took over from there. Where the 3 rivers came together at Bartica, it looked like a big lake, about 7 miles or so across. Every year there was a big regatta, featuring the bateaus, both paddled and powered, various launches, and, last but not least, speedboats. There was a great deal of rivalry in the area, and a lot of publicity attached to who had the fastest boat on the river.
Evan Wong & Son were the agents for Archimedes Motors, the workhorse, heavy duty outboard motor — essentially a slow-revving cargo mover. At one point they also represented Outboard Marine (Johnson and Evinrude) and another American-made motor called the Elto. The British outboard motors were called Seagulls and were really too small to be a factor. Your grandfather had dropped Outboard Marine and Elto and was concentrating on Archimedes. When we arrived in Guyana in 1951, the king of the river and the winner the last three regattas was a Class B hydroplane owned by a retired American who had built a huge house at Bartica Point. He was married to Flo Bamford, a local socialite when I was growing up. He had served with the American forces in Guyana during WWII. His boat builder was Oscar Smart, the number one boat builder in Bartica. For several years they had dominated the unlimited class and B Class (10 hp) hydroplanes. They used Johnson motors and their B Class hydroplane also won the unlimited.
I decided that it would be good publicity if Archimedes powered the fastest boat on the river and set out to modify a 10 hp heavy duty Archimedes into a racing machine. My personal boat builder was “Spence” Spencer who built all the racing sculls and one-design yachts like Snipes and Lightnings for the Yacht Club and Rowing Club. He also maintained EW&S wooden barges and Nomad, our 26-foot cabin cruiser. We got the plans for the B Class hydroplane, which was designed to do 45 mph with a 10 hp Johnson, and we built it in secret for the 1952 Bartica regatta. Clement Jardim, my auto mechanic, and personal friend modified the Archimedes as well as possible. He upped the compression ratio, redesigned the exhaust system and ignition and so on. We held secret trial behind the islands in the Essequibo. We named the boat Spiritwood after Christine’s hometown. However, the best we could get out of it was about 42 mph. Heavy duty slow revving Archimedes motors were not built for racing.
However, it was good enough to win both the B Class and the unlimited class.
Of course, there was a lot of betting. All the Buxton boys from the quarries and our other friends bet on us, and there was delirium, and we were the big heroes. Ten hp Archimedes dominated the river run business thereafter.
Christine won a B Class trophy one time in Bartica driving Spiritwood with the 10 hp motor. There should be a cup somewhere, presented to her by Eugene Corriea, the only conservative elected in Guyana’s first election. She was the only woman to ever compete.
In subsequent regattas, faster hydroplanes, using 25 hp outboards (C Class) were the rule. We competed, but Archimedes did not make 25 hp machines, so we entered, not as EW&S but privately, and used Johnson powered boats. With a 25 hp Johnson, Spiritwood was pretty skittish and I had a few accidents, but we still won.
Among the other racing craft we had was Whirlwind, a Class C utility racer, which I took to Mackenzie when we went to live there. We used it as fast transportation to Georgetown, and we started utility speedboat racing at Mackenzie. I crashed Whirlwind in an exhibition sometime in about 1955. No more speed boating after that.
I did design and build a pre-fabbed speed boat for fun though. The wood working shop cut out the pieces and I assembled it in half a day. I designed it to be made from two sheets of marine plywood, and to plane with a 5 hp motor. It was just for fun. I don’t think we have a picture. We sold it when we went to Canada.
Whirlwind and Spiritwood
Spiritwood winning a race
