History

The world governing body for the sport of sailing was created in Paris in October 1907. It was initially called the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) before the name was changed to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) on 5 August 1996 and then World Sailing in 2015.

The IYRU evolved from racing sailors to have a uniform set of rules and measurement standards. Before 1870 individual yacht clubs developed their own set of racing rules, of which each was the sole arbiter in interpreting and applying them. While the popularity of racing against other clubs grew, so did the confusion and frustration on the racecourse.

In Britain, several attempts to develop a uniform set of rules and the first meeting to develop such rules were the ‘Yachting Congress’ organised by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on 1 June 1868. 23 representatives from 14 clubs attended this congress. Under the guidance of Captain Mackinnon, a sub-committee of the congress compiled a pamphlet of the existing rules on all the yacht clubs. The Congress met again on 4 March 1869 when a draft of the racing rules was examined and adopted. However, when published in the yachting press, it met with severe criticism and was abandoned.

Several associations were subsequently formed, and their rules again rejected. Finally, in 1881, when HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, was Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron, the two clubs joined the Yacht Racing Association and the New Thames Yacht Club and developed a set of rules for British waters.

The Development of International Standards 1906 - 1960

There was still confusion over the different measurement standards used in Europe, North America and Britain, which meant yachts from different countries could not compete on equal terms. Major Brooke Heckstall-Smith, secretary of the Yacht Racing Association, wrote to the Yacht Club de France expressing the need to devise an international measurement rule for racing yachts acceptable to all European countries. As a result, an International Conference on Yacht Measurement was held in London in January and June 1906, and the ‘Metre Rule’ was developed. The attendees formed the International Yacht Racing Union and adopted a common code of yacht racing rules based on the YRA.

The rule is still used today in the 12 Metre, 8 Metre, 6 Metre and other Metre boats.

At that time, the IYRU comprised Austria-Hungary, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland and Belgium, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

In November 1929, representatives from the North American Yacht Racing Union actively participated in the discussions to ensure that the North American Yacht Racing Rules and the International Yacht Racing Rules were almost identically worded. Neither one would change their rules without first informing the other.

In 1960 a totally universal code of racing rules was agreed upon and implemented.

World Sailing

Presidents

From 1906 to 1946, a chairman was elected from time to time to orchestrate the annual meetings of the IYRU. In 1946, Sir Ralph Gore was elected the first President. Since then, World Sailing has seen six Presidents:

  • Sir Ralph Gore 1946-55,
  • Sir Peter Scott (GBR) 1955-69,
  • Beppe Croce (ITA) 1969-86,
  • Peter Tallberg (FIN) 1986-1994,
  • Paul Henderson (CAN) 1994-2004,
  • Göran Petersson (SWE) 2004-2012,
  • Carlo Croce (ITA) 2012-2016,
  • Kim Andersen (DEN) from 2016-2020 and
  • Quanhai Li (CHN) 2020 – present

Over 100 Years Promoting the Sport of Sailing

The International Olympic Committee officially recognises World Sailing as the governing authority for sailing worldwide. As such, World Sailing is responsible for the promotion of the sport internationally, managing sailing at the Olympic Games, developing the International Racing Rules and Regulations for all sailing competitions and the training of judges, umpires and other administrators, the development of the sport around the world, as well as representing sailors in all matters concerning the sport. Along with the name change to the International Sailing Federation in 1996 came with the change to the name of the sport on the Olympic programme from Yachting to Sailing.

To promote the development of the sport, World Sailing has established several events – including the Sailing World Championships and Sailing’s World Cup Series (for Olympic equipment), Youth Sailing World Championship, Team Racing World Championship, Match Racing World Championship, Women’s Match Racing World Championship, Nations Cup, as well as endorsing and grading the top international match racing and Olympic Class regattas, the results of which go towards sailors’ world rankings, which World Sailing administers.

World Sailing currently consists of 145 member nations who are its principal members and responsible for the sailing world’s decision-making process.

There are currently over 100 recognised and Classic Yacht Classes, ranging from the small Optimist Dinghy to the largest, the 60ft Monohulls.

World Sailing, from its outset, has worked towards a primary goal to ensure that as many people as possible go sailing.

In 2007, World Sailing celebrated its Centenary year by celebrating sailing. World Sailing’s members, sailing clubs, regatta organisers, sailors and fans were encouraged to organise activities to mark the Centenary with the ‘Sail the World weekend’ dedicated to getting as many people out on the water worldwide as possible.