Trinidad and Tobago Post Office issued two stamps in 1974 showing two yachts of the same name built in the island, the Humming Bird on the 40c. value; and the Humming Bird II, 50c. stamp. The first of the two was built in Trinidad and took two years as a spare‑time occupation, her builders being Harold La Horde a West Indian and his friend Kelvin Wong Chong. The yacht was designed by Philip Goode, as a 26 ft. ketch gaff‑rigged, hard chine and built of marine plywood on pitch pine frames, her dimensions being 26 ft. 9 in., 22 ft. on the waterline; 9ft. beam; and 4 ft. draft.
The 50c stamp depicts Humming Bird II, successor to the yacht just mentioned. This was also built by Harold La Borde, and the yacht builder is shown on the stamp with his wife, Mrs. Kwailan La Borde. This auxiliary ketch was built at Trinidad in 1966, and is registered at Port of Spain. She has a gross tonnage of 24 tons, her dimensions being: length, 40 ft.; waterline 30ft; beam 13 ft.; draft 5 ft. 6in. Sails were made by Keckello, in 1966, her sail area being 800 sq. ft. She has a 3‑cylinder auxiliary oil engine of 12 bhp. built by Lister Blackstone in 1966.
Mr. and Mrs. La Borde made a round‑the‑world cruise in the Humming Bird II, 1969‑1973, and the stamp commemorates the first anniversary of the homecoming of the ketch. There is also a miniature sheet for the event, the two stamps framed with a picture of the Humming Bird II against a background of an ocean sunset.
Sea Breezes March 1975 Ernest Argyle
Trinidad and Tobago SG454 455.