Peter Chilvers

Peter Chilvers is an inventor, engineer and promoter of sailing and windsurfing. He is credited with an early version of a sail powered surfboard.

Peter Chilvers came into the public eye in the 1980s as the result of patent infringement lawsuit brought by Windsurfing International, Inc. against Tabur Marine, a competing manufacturer. Tabur disputed the validity of the patent, and presented to the courts evidence of a boyhood creation by Chilvers, who, in 1958, at the age of 12, on Hayling Island, assembled a rudder-steered board powered by a sail, years before Windsurfing International filed for its patent for the Windsurfer. Although the Chilvers apparatus differed in significant respects from the Windsurfer, including use of a rudder for steering and the design of the boom, the court ruled for Tabur. This case set important precedents for patent law in the United Kingdom, originating the well-known Windsufer Test regarding the steps of inventiveness and non-obviousness. It was not proven whether Windsurfing International had any knowledge of the prior creation by Chilvers, and this was not relevant to the courts decision, however was a source of much recorded debate, especially considering the evidence given of considerable intimidation of key witnesses.

Among many things, Peter Chilvers has been a successful engineer for Lotus and has founded a sailing and windsurfing centre in London, where he lives today with his wife and daughter.

The sailing and windsurfing centre in London's East End was founded by Chilvers as a philanthropic venture to promote sailing and windsurfing amongst underprivileged children of the East End in the 1970s. He created and has maintained the centre for over 20 years. He maintains this centre as well as operating a Sailing and Windsurfing club onboard the Sir Henry Johnson.

Peter Chilvers is currently heading the bid for a £40 million sailing and windsurfing centre on Hayling Island to regenerate the area and recognise it as the place where Windsurfing was invented and he grew up. This bid has reached the second stage of the bid process, and with public support may come to fruition, creating a global legacy for a sport whose true origins are clouded by financial interests.

External links

* [http://www.lddc-history.org.uk/water/index.html LDDC Water usage] A Link to the London Docklands Development Agency and home of Peter Chilvers Windsurfing
* [http://www.rodma.co.uk/clubsNwater.htm Rodma] List of Royal Docks water users including Peter Chilvers Windsurfing
* [http://www.hayling.co.uk/news/story578.html Destination Hayling Island] More information on the proposed redevelopment of Hayling Island that Peter Chilvers is heading.
* [http://www.havant.gov.uk/havant-6961 Destination Hayling Island. Project Summary detailing the involvement of Peter Chilvers.]

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