Starboard have shared the sad news that the windsurfing pioneer, Jim Drake has passed away. RIP Jim, are thoughts are with friends and family. 

Svein Rasmussen and the Starboard family speak about Jim and the legacy he leaves:

“Jim Drake changed the lives of millions of people and will continue to do so.

Windsurfing has made people experience the wind, waves and water in new ways. The sport has made converts travel and even settle on the opposite side of our planet. His spirit was always to include everyone and especially women and kids into windsurfing.

Jim and his wife Sam spent years with us in Thailand developing designs and strategies to increase the popularity of windsurfing. He was always optimistic and especially happy to challenge the status quo. His view on “one design” versus free choice of windsurfing gear for the Olympics was well known. His designs, like the Formula 175, the worlds most winning race board ever took competitive windsurfing to a new level.

Jim was an early adaptor of paddle boarding and he has helped design a number of winning designs like the K15. Some of his later designs are still being tested and his ideas on the future of paddle board designs may soon be shared.

He had so much more to give and reminded us on how precious each hour of life is.”