Sailboarding!

Background and Beginnings:

This extremely popular water sport is actually quite new - as far as established and wildly popular sports go. This post actually speaks a lot about the historical background of the gear involved and not so focused on the "names and faces" of it's players, events and champions.

It was a man named Newman Darby, that had the first ideas of using a sail, mounted on a universal joint, to steer a small catamaran in 1948. Darby didn't file for a patent for this invention but he is recognized as the inventor of the sailboard.

It was two men, Jim Drake and Hoyle Schweitzer, that applied for and received the first patent for a sailboard. They called their invention a "Windsurfer." The early Wind-surfing boards were 12' long and weighed about 60 pounds.

In the late 80's, Newman Darby applied for and received a patent for a one person sailboat called the "Darby 8 SS sidestep hull."

In their article called "The Birth of Windsurfing" Newman and his wife Naomi wrote that "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 (late 1940s) Newman got interested in steering a boat without a rudder. Several sailboats and 2 1/2 decades later (1964) 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 centerboard, tail fin and kite shaped free sail and thus windsurfing was born."

Jim Drake and Hoyle Schweitzer applied for a patent for their sailboard design. It was granted in 1970. Drake and Schweitzer based their Windsurfer on Darby's original idea and gave him full credit him for its invention.

"The heart of the invention (and it's patent) was mounting a sail on a universal joint, requiring the sailor to support the rig, and allowing the rig to be tilted in any direction. This tilting of the rig fore and aft allows the board to be steered without the use of a rudder - the only sail craft able to do so."

Schweitzer began mass-producing polyethylene sailboards of the "Windsurfer" design, in the early 1970s. The sport grew like a brushfire and became very popular in Europe. By the late 1970's, the windsurfing fever had so enthralled the Europeans, that one in every three households owned a sailboard!

The first "World Championship of Windsurfing" took place in 1973. Windsurfing drew such a following that it was named as an Olympic sport for men in 1984 and as a women's event in 1992. The history of this sport, despite having very recent beginnings, has so enamored it's enthusiastic followers, that it stands out as a great example of how the ideas of one man, can lead to the creation of such a widely enjoyed sport.

Disclaimer: Ideas for this article and some facts and figures, are based on widely known and published facts from a variety of resources. Thank you all!

Camera Bags Aren't Created Equal

Some Comparison Shopping Tells The Tale!


Looking at some of the most popular bags and the most sought after, are included. The first bag we looked at was the "Corn Flakes" of camera bags - The Lowepro "brand", 34951, A.K.A. "Stealth Reporter D400 AW" shoulder bag is well constructed and has a price tag that most can afford. It carries a large body DSLR type camera and a few lenses along with a few odds and ends. Created for photojournalists and news photographers, the Stealth Reporter D400 AW is designed to withstand the elements while providing quick access to lenses and digital accessories. Although the Stealth Reporter D400 AW was designed to be lightweight, it's still heavy on features and durability. Durable ballistic nylons, high density closed cell foams, deluxe shoulder strap, metal hardware and an all weather cover ensure that this one tough bag. After all, the last thing you need to worry about is your camera equipment. Prices vary from $130 to $150.

Then there's the Crumpler MD0501A Camera Shoulder Bag which at $75 is a very nice bag. It boasts Additional Compartments, Flash / Lens Case Features are padded with a Velcro Flap and is water resistant. It includes mesh accessory pockets, and an adjustable, removable shoulder strap. It's dimensions are 7.9 in x 10.2 in x 5.5 in (HxWxD).

We looked at the Fellowes 9776901 standard camera case, a modest, belt or shoulder slung bag for compact digital cameras that offers your camera a home and a bit of protection. Prices vary from $7 to $9.

Finally, we looked at a smallish Billingham Hadley Digital Camera Bag. the Hadley Digital is designed to carry a DSLR with a standard lens. It has a non-removable insert and features an adjustable single Quick Release strap into a brass buckle, bellowed front pocket with press-stud fastening, and double darted main flap. The fully adjustable shoulder sling is sewn under a leather side patch, which provides the facility to attach AVEA-3 pouches.

The Digital Hadley is roomy enough to the carry most any D-SLR with a medium zoom lens attached as well as an additional lens or flash. A roomy front exterior pocket is ideal for carrying cords, chargers, memory device, extra batteries and more.

Two Velcro dividers are supplied with the Digital Hadley. A padded top foam pad is sewn directly into the top of the bag, further insuring precious equipment from bumps and spills. The Billingham Digital Hadley runs approx. $200 but is worth every penny of it. Once you go with a Billingham Camera Bag, it's tough to impossible, to go back!

Water Sports "Down Under"

Be Aware Of Posted Warnings!

If you haven't read it somewhere already, swimming in North QLD beaches is done at a risk and coordinated with local advice and a calender. Cairns was the only vacation I've ever taken where a fatal shark attack and warnings about killer jellyfish were normal to find on tourism web pages. Check first before swimming at any beach if it's box jellyfish season because we just got back and were told while there not to swim anywhere but a pool or at the reef. The reef is safe because the jelly's (stingers they call them) don't end up that far out and the only common sharks found at the reef are non-aggressive smaller reef sharks. Luckily the resort has two great lagoon style pools and the city of Cairns has "The Lagoon" near downtown which, I hear, is a man made lagoon alternative since the beaches are shut down or restricted relatively often. You can see the park area around it as you drive through and I heard it's nice but the reef snorkeling and the resort pool served well enough for me.

Please note that jelly's/stingers can also be found out on the reef. During our stay at Cairns, we spent a night on board a ship out at the reef so that I could do some diving. While surfacing from one dive, my dive partner got stung, raising a large welt across his chin. Fortunately, it wasn't one of the deadlier jelly's and they quickly put something on it that negated most of the worst effects. Because we were wearing full dive gear (wetsuit, gloves, hood) I managed to escape untouched and Marcos only got stung in that one unprotected area.Despite that, I'd go back in a heartbeat! The resort pools were nice looking, but the water was quite cold when we were there (May - beginning of their winter down-under)

Please use every precaution when diving in areas that are frequented by jellyfish and/or sharks. These are not ocean inhabitants that one should ever take lightly!

Ewa-Marine Waterproof Sports Pouches

Two Great Waterproof All-Purpose Sports Pouches!

Here's a question that I answer nearly every week - real example and my response:

The Question:

Hi,

What do the letters "DU" and "DUS" stand for and what's their meaning (if not obvious from your first explanation)? We are looking for waterproof pouches for some gear.

Thanks, (name deleted)

The reply:

The DU & DUS are Ewa-Marine's version of model "types":

The DU sports pouch range is water resistant and may be immersed in water. They will float with your stuff too but they have a sliding rail closure that could work loose in the motions of diving or snorkeling. They are not recommended for diving but rather for poolside, beach or storage in a boat where they may become splashed or fall in the water!

The DUS waterproof all purpose pouches are for diving, snorkeling and active use while in the water. Ewa-Marine has tested and given them 100m / 300 feet depth ratings. The difference is the closure rails that clamp the pouch are secured with lock nuts and won't accidentally be worked loose over time. Your electronics for instance, could possibly be crushed at extreme depths but the DUS would still keep them waterproof.

Within each category of DU or DUS, you'll see "-1", "-2", "-3" or "-4" and that numerical suffix, corresponds to the item and also the size of sports pouch you select that meets your requirements. The higher the number within the DU or DUS range, the larger the dimension of the pouch, the dimensions of each are as listed on our website.

These are factory designations and I don't understand the German language so I couldn't guess if they are acronyms for something or not. I hope this helps. Have a great day!

Best Regards, Yours Truly