Inaugural Gum Boat Festival in Canouan

February 28, 2010, was another inaugural event in Canouan, the Canouan Gum Boat Club (CGBC) was launched and soon followed on National Heroes’ Day weekend, their First Annual Gum Boat Festival.{{more}}

After only a few months of planning for their main event, the CGBC drew an attractive crowd to the beach on Grand Bay to watch the two categories (5ft – 3ft) of boat races. The racing spanned for two days over the three-day weekend, with the first race on Sunday and final racing on Monday.

First Place Challenge trophies were sponsored by Digicel St. Vincent Ltd. Peter Ollivierre with the boat “Lee P.O” walked away with the first place trophy in the 5ft class, while Hutson DeRoche from Canouan and James Hunt from Bequia tied for second place with their boats “FaFa” and “Headache”, respectively. Alfie Deroche and his boat “Pressure” captured the third position. Other boats in this category were “Terry Ann”, “Red I”, “Avenger”, “Ms. Derrick”, “Baby Scope” and “Ionman”.

In the 3ft category, the boat “007”, owned by Eli DeRoche, took home the first place challenge trophy, also sponsored by Digicel. “Angelica”, owner Louis DeRoche, and “Bee”, owner Amos Snagg, secured the second and third place trophies, respectively. Other boats in this category were “O’Nelia”, “Surprise” and “Plan Ass”.

The Canouan Gum Boat Club thanks the following sponsors and persons who helped to make this event a success:

Digicel St. Vincent Ltd., St. Vincent Brewery Ltd., Moussa & Sons, C.K. Greaves & Co. Ltd., Andre DeRoche, Multigraphic Services, Singer/CD Veira Ltd., Vinci Natural Spring Water, Island Wide Shipping, Kerosene Lamp Foundation, DHL St. Vincent Ltd., Majella Gallant, Jennifer Cherverton, Gonsalves Liquors, J. G. & Sons Ltd, SVG Air, Tamarind Beach Hotel, Bigger Bigs Trucking, Jaden Inc., Moorings Canouan, Gunsam Investments, Canouan Island Council, Canouan Foods Ltd., Anchor Inn, Joseph Browne Marine Surveys, Canouan Aviation Services, DQ’s Barbecue Barn, Glen Gumbs, Pompey’s Restaurant, Friendship Bar Canouan, Kids Plus and Dive Canouan.