who invented wind surfing and where?
Answers
Answer:
Jim Drake, an aeronautics engineer, and his partner, Hoyle Schweitzer, received United States patent 3,487,800 for a sailboard -- what Mr. Schweitzer later trademarked as a Windsurfer -- in 1970.
Answer:
Explanation:Board sailing is dated back in the latter half of the 20th century. However, research shows that before this there were boats of various designs that were still propelled by wind with a vertical sail.
Basing on the available information, there seems to be a little debate on the place where windsurfing was invented. Most believe it was invented in England (Hayling Island) by Peter Chilvers. He is said to have built the first windsurfer in 1958
However, a number of individuals from different areas have come out saying they are the inventors.
In America, a 20-year old Newman Darby is said to have come up with the idea of using a sailboard in the year 1948. Stories published this year as reported by the International’s patent show that Darby invented the sailboards together with his wife Naomi in Wilkes- Bare, Pennsylvania.
The sailboard was made using a handheld sail and a rig fixed on a universal joint. It was the first windsurfer that was propelled by shifting your body to balance the weight which eventually led to the movement of the sailboard.
Though, it is reported that he did not sell his sailboards until in the year 1964. By this time, he had already made the sailboard stable by fixing a conventional stayed loop rig. He is therefore believed to be the inventor and designer of the sailboard.
Additionally, in 1960s, Aeronautical engineer Jim Drake solved a couple of problems looking forward to the functioning of the device. This involved addition of a rope that was used to get the sail out of water. He therefore named this design ‘Skate’.
In 1968, Jim Drake and Hoyle Schweitzer formed the windsurfing international company in the southern part of California which manufactured, promoted and licensed a windsurfer design. They therefore patented the design.
However, due to lack of knowledge of the impact such invention will have to the water sites, Drake sold this patent to Hoyle who sold it to the public hence became the first successful marketer of the board.
In the year 1984, windsurfing was taken in as Los Angeles Olympics where Dutchman Stephan emerged the winner and was the first person to be awarded the gold medal in the windsurfing category.