Wally: Part 1
Perhaps like you, I thought that the original Windsurfer had pretty much been consigned to history. An odd board here or there brought out by someone who lived in the darkest jungles of Peru (like Paddington) and had yet to hear of the advent of monofilm.
Several months ago, I discovered that they are still being made. Rather, they are being made in an updated version. In many places in the world, the Windsurfer One Design, or as it's affectionately known, the Wally, is still actively sailed. And some would say, in light air, it remains a competitive race board.
It's easy to think that only the oddball 'fereners' (foreigners), with their taste for small cars, warm beer, miniscule swimsuits and inexplicable lack of appreciation for such things as the Auburn/Alabama football game (or better yet, SEC spring football games) would be involved. Nope. Even windsurfers on US waters are involved due to the efforts of Ted Schweitzer, son of the co-inventor of the original.
Here's a video from Italy's 2011 national championship. We suggest that you pour a good martini before watching - when you listen to the soundtrack, you'll know why.
And, here's a film from about 1975 when the Windsurfer was still very novel. For you young'uns, note that when planing, the sailors would remove the daggerboard and hang it from their arms.
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