surfresearch

pods for primates : a catalogue of surfboards in australia since 1900

surfresearch.com.au
the catalogue #89

1978 Windsurfer 11 ft 2''

#89

MANUFACTURE
MANUFACTURER: Ten Cate Sports Products PO Box 58 Alemelo Holland
SHAPER: Molded
DESIGN: Windsurfer
DESIGNERS: Jim Drake and Hoyle Schweitzer

SPECIFICATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
Roto-molded polyester shell, filled with foam, molded centreboard box, mast box and fin box, molded anti-slip deck.
DIMENSIONS

*Length :*	11	ft	2	inches
*Width :*	25 1/2	inches		*Wide Point :*	+ve 12	inches
*Nose :*	16 1/2	inches		*Tail :*	18	inches
*Thickness :*	4 1/2	inches		*Pod :*	9 1/2	inches
*Nose Lift :*		inches		*Tail Lift :*		inches
*Weight :*		kilos		*Volume :*		litres
*Other, Flyer/s :*		inches

FEATURES
Nose: rounded
Tail:   square
Deck:   flat,
Bottom:   flat,
Rails: high chine rail in nose, to low chine at tail, mostly 60/40
Rocker: slight, nose lift

FIN
8" x 5 1/2"
molded black plastic
Wedged base with two stainless screws, based on Waveset design.
See below for centreboards.

DECOR

DECALS
Deck
Adhesive decal on tail :Windsurfer
Bottom
MARKINGS
Deck: None
Bottom:
COLOUR
Deck: White
Bottom: White

NOTES
BOARD HISTORY
Manufactured February 1978.
Purchased Salvation Army Store, Tempe, Sydney May 2000
DESIGN HISTORY
Earliest record of board and sail is credited to Tom Blake, circa 1935

Tom Blake and sailing surfboard,
Hawaii circa 1935
Blake : Hawaiian Surfriders 1935,
Photograph Section 1

Plans and photographs were subsequently printed in
Popular Science Magazine
August 1940,
Pages 136-138.

Note Hands-Free sailing technique of Bigler?, in Hawaii, circa 1967 in Dale Davis' The Golden Breed, 1968.
Also note the interest in Surf-Sailing, initially by Woody Brown's catamaran at Waikiki circa 1940 and Hobie Alter's Hobie Cat, circa 1966.
Original rig design was patented in 1968 by Jim Drake and Hoyle Schweitzer (see below), the board was based on mid 1960's standard malibu board template.
Initially little interest was shown in the USA, but the design proved popular in Europe, essentially as an alternatine to small sailing boats.
In Hawaii, a small committed group radically pushed the design to it's limits in the surfzone, and in a short period had introduced the rubber universal, harness and footstraps and eliminated the centreboard.
Early design was focused on board and fin shape, producing a virtual menagerie of variation.
See Sailbord Fin Catalogue.
By 1988 board design had relatively stabilised and the large manufacturers invested in producing lighter and stronger boards in epoxy resins.
This period also saw dramatic advances in sail and rig design.
COMMENTS
The influence of surfing on the development of the Windsurfer is well documented.
The significant imact on surfing and surfboard design by windsurfing is usually downplayed by most surfing commentators...
1.The successful application of expoxy technology to surfboard manufacture has only been possible by accessing the expensive and difficult advances made by the sailboard industry betwen 1980 to 1990.
2. The development of tow-in surfing on the outer reefs of Hawaii was preceeded by extensive ''testing'' by sailboarders, essentially the same crew that pioneered tow-in. The use of footstraps being a crucial factor.
REFERENCES
Evans, Jeremy : The Complete Guide to Windsurfing
Evans Brothers Limited
Montague House, Rusell Square, London WC1B 5BX 1983.
Pages 12 to15.
CONDITION: 7.

FIN No. 2

CENTREBOARDS

Windsurfer Standard Centreboard

Wave/High wind Centreboard

London Patent Office Specification, circa 1971
# 1 258 317

Evans, Jeremy : The Complete Guide to Windsurfing
Evans Brothers Limited
Montague House, Rusell Square, London WC1B 5BX 1983.
Page 14.