ISAF : ISAF - Short History

A Short History of the International Sailing Federation

From its inception in Paris in October 1907, the governing body for the sport of sailing was known as the International Yacht Racing Union. On 5 August 1996, the IYRU changed its name to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

The International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) evolved from the need for racing sailors to have a uniform set of rules and measurement standards. Since then IYRU/ISAF has developed a system of rules and measurement that are used world-wide in all sailing events.

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 race course.

In Britain, there were several attempts to develop a uniform set of rules but the first meeting to develop such rules was the 'Yachting Congress' organised by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on 1 June 1868. This congress was attended by 23 representatives from 14 clubs. 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 were examined and adopted. However, when published in the yachting press it met with severe criticism and was abandoned.

The need for a coherent set of rules continued to grow. A number of associations were formed and their rules subsequently rejected. In 1881, when HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales was Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron, these two clubs joined the Yacht Racing Association along with the New Thames Yacht Club and developed a set of rules for British waters.

Again confusion arose over the different measurement standards that were being used in Europe, North America and Britain. Consequently, 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 rule of measurement for racing yachts that was 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 and is still used today in the 12 Metre, 8 Metre, 6 Metre and other Metre boats. The attendees formed the International Yacht Racing Union and adopted a common code of yacht racing rules based on that of the YRA.

At that time the IYRU comprised of the yachting authorities of 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 took part in the deliberations to ensure that the North American Yacht Racing Rules and the International Yacht Racing Rules were almost identically worded and that neither one would change their rules without first informing the other. In 1960 a totally universal code of racing rules was agreed and implemented.

From 1906 to 1946 a chairman was elected from time to time to orchestrate the annual meetings. In 1946, Sir Ralph GORE was elected the first President and since then the ISAF has seen five Presidents Sir Peter SCOTT (GBR), 1955-69 Beppe CROCE, (ITA), 1969-86 Peter TALLBERG (FIN), 1986-1994, and Paul HENDERSON (CAN), 1994-2004 and Göran PETERSSON (SWE) 2004-present.

The International Sailing Federation (as it is now called) is officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the governing authority for sailing world-wide. As such, the ISAF is responsible for promotion of the sport internationally, managing sailing at the Olympic Games, developing the International Yacht 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.

In order to promote the development of the sport the ISAF has established several events - including, but not limited to the ISAF World Sailing Championships (for Olympic equipment), ISAF World Sailing Games, ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship, ISAF Team Racing World Championship, ISAF Match Racing World Championship, ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship, ISAF 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 are administered by ISAF.

The ISAF currently consists of 121 member nations who are its principle members, and responsible for the decision making process that governs the sailing world.

There are currently 87 ISAF International, Recognized and Classic Yacht Classes, ranging from the smallest being the Optimist Dinghy to the largest, the 60ft Multihull.

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

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