History


The New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association was formed at Cambridge , Massachusetts, March 26, 1949, in anticipation of the formation of a continental college sailing organization and on the recommendation of the old Inter-Collegiate Y.R.A at its annual meeting of February 12, 1949.  The new association was founded by 21 New England members of I.C.Y.R.A. and shortly thereafter 25 other colleges formed the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association.

At Ann Arbor, Michigan, June 20-21, 1949, these two associations joined with the Midwest College Sailing Association and the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Yacht Racing Association to form the INTERCOLLEGIATE YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA. In less than a year, the Intercollegiate Y.R.A. of North America has accomplished a unification of rules for college competitions, standardized entry and registration procedures, clarified eligibility and membership standards, introduced uniform safety requirements, and broadened the scope of its competitions.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the Spring 2020 competition season was cancelled as sailors were sent home from their schools. The Fall 2020 competition season will also likely be cancelled. In summer 2020, the NEISA TIDE Committee was founded by a group of undergraduates to promote inclusion, diversity, and equity in New England intercollegiate sailing

Much still remains to be accomplished, but the future is bright.