The First Board
Most historians agree that American surfer S. Newman Darby was the first person to build a windsurfing rig. In 1965, he built the first one by connecting a hand-held mast with a sail and fastening it to a surfboard with a universal joint. He called his new sport "sail boarding."
The First Manufacturer
Darby published his designs in Popular Science Monthly magazine. Soon after, Darby and his brothers (Ron and Ken) formed Darby Industries and began to manufacture and retail the "sail boards." Unfortunately, the Darby never applied for a patent.
"Sail Boarding" to Windsurfing
The sport of windsurfing derives its modern name from Windsurfer International, the company that completed the patent process for engineering that essentially duplicated Darby's earlier work. The company was very aggressive in protecting its patent and met with great success. Darby was unable to legally challenge the company for rights to the design.
Development of the Windsurfing Sport
Windsurfing was granted Olympic status in 1984, furthering the global reach of the sport. The Professional Windsurfer's Association now recognizes five sub-disciplines in the sport: Wave, Super X, Freestyle, Slalom and Indoor.
Original Board Shape
Darby's original "sail board" was wide and short. Though the intervening years have seen windsurfing boards get longer and thinner, many manufacturers are returning to boards styled closer to the original shape because they often go faster than newer styles.
Article Written By Annette O'Neil
Annette O'Neil graduated from the University of Southern California with degrees in cinema, global communication and geology. A writer for more than a decade, O'Neil has written copy, content and editorial articles for hundreds of clients and publications, including Yoga Awakening Africa and Whole Life Times.
