Sail Training International

In 1956, the Sail Training International Race Committee (STIRC) was formed in the United Kingdom to organize a unique international tall ships' regatta. Due to the popularity of the regatta with the public and participating vessels, the first regatta evolved into the regular Tall Ships' Races (1973–2003 under the name Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races), which continued to be organized by the STIRC. It was later succeeded by the British Sail Training Association or the International Sail Training Association (ISTA), a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Sail Training Association, whose role was to continue to organize the Tall Ships' Races.

Today's Sail Training International was formed in 2002 by the 20 Sail Training Associations and organizations that exist around the world and promote the idea of Sail Training nationwide, to transfer ISTA's duties to a new and independent organization – one owned and controlled by the STAs of the various states.[4] Sail Training International took over ISTA's property, employees and contracts with regatta and event ports a few months after its formation.

Co-founding National Sail Training Organizations were those of Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Since 2003 Sail Training International has been recognized as a non-profit organization.