The commercial beginning of the sailboard (AKA free sail system) started late in 1964 when DARBY INDUSTRY'S, INC. was organized.  The evolution of the Sailboard (AKA windsurfer), goes farther back to 1940's when Newman Darby found he could steer a conventional 3 meter sailboat by tipping it fore and aft enough to make turns even without a rudder.  This is when Newman got interested in steering a boat without a rudder. Several sailboats and 2 1/2 decades later he designed the first universal joint to go along with a flat bottom sailing scow. This sailboard was fitted with a universal joint mast, a center board, tail fin and kite shaped free sail and thus windsurfing was born.  This sailboard was featured in Popular Science, (August issue,1965) many newspapers, "The Price is Right" TV show ,  the Philadelphia boat show and demonstrated in marinas.  Many people claim to have built the first windsurfer but here is indisputable proof that Newman Darby with the help of his now wife Naomi designed and built the first sailboard (as it was dubbed then).  The build your own plans were available and hundred of people all over the world wrote Newman Darby for the plans and to ask questions.  Every Darby Sailboard came equipped with a universal joint on the mast foot and a center board.  This web site contains all the proof anyone needs to establish the fact that Mr. Darby was the absolute first! The founding father of windsurfing!  I for one am glad he did it. See the proof for yourself.  Explore this web site and let the enclosed photos and reprinted documents from the 1965 Popular Science article prove it to you. Want more proof order copies of the home movie shot by Naomi & Newman in 1965.  It available on VHS format.  Click here for more detail!