On 6 January 1970, Hoyle Schweitzer and Jim Drake received US Patent No. 3,487,800 for a “Wind-propelled apparatus“, the windsurfing board.
A surfboard with a universally mounted mast and a wishbone boom, so the rider steers by hand, balance, and wind angle. Simple hardware, huge ripple effect. 56 years later, windsurfers are still carving, tacking, and blasting across the water on the same core idea that patent captured.
| Country | Kind | No. | Published | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Patent | 3,487,800 | 06.01.1970 | Wind-propelled apparatus |
Last updated on 18 February 2026