Passing of Jim Drake a man we all owe a debt of gratitude

[damel]

It is hard enough to start windsurfing as a beginner now imagine what it was like to be one of the pioneers of windsurfing or the original designer. We can all probably remember the our first day windsurfing and how discouraged we were but there were others on the water ensuring us it was possible.

It took a lot of courage, hard work, commitment and the genius of Jim Drake to get windsurfing off the ground. While Jim was an aeronautical engineer in the middle of designing the X-15 plane for the air force he still found time to draft a design of the windsurfer. While Hoyle Schwitzer nurtured windsurfing through its infancy Jim had a big part in the original idea.

If you haven't seen this video it is a great history of windsurfing:
https://vimeo.com/17668545

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[Bluejaytoo]

Dang it, I was hoping Jim was doing better. I had the distinct honor of meeting him back in '08 in Frisco. He emanated the spirit of the sport, even in his later years. He was telling me how happy he was to have escaped the rat race of southern California and move to North Carolina, and he was working to bring back the idea of enjoyable light-wind cruising. I should have bought a Serenity right then and there and had him sign it.

[windward1]

Thank you, Jim Drake.

I will always remember you and Hoyle Schweitzer. Your creation has brought me hours of tremendous bliss.

Thank you.

Windward1

[isobars]

I told Jim in the mid '80s that he had changed my life forever. He blushed and said "You're embarrassing me", to which I responded, "Good. Then you won't forget it." Humble man, especially considering his impact on the world.

Mike \m/

[steve1]

Just learned of his passing, very sad.

I watched the video with a tear in my eye.