Jim Drake (engineer)

Not to be confused with James Drake (engineer).

James R. Drake (January 8, 1929 – June 19, 2012) was an American aeronautical engineer best known as the inventor of windsurfing. In 1967, Drake designed, built and successfully tested the first modern windsurfer, introducing the free-sail system, which allows the rider’s body to control both sail power and direction without a rudder. In 1968, he co-patented his design and co-founded the sport's first company, Windsurfing International, contributing to the global development of the sport.

Before creating the windsurfer, Drake worked as a principal engineer on advanced aerospace projects, including the X-15 rocket plane, the first operational space plane and the fastest crewed aircraft ever flown. His application of aerospace engineering principles to sailcraft design was central to his inventing windsurfing.

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