The History of IYFR

The International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians was formed in 1947 in Great Britain and is recognised as the oldest of the Rotary Fellowships, the first of many recreational fellowships formed with the World Fellowship activities of Rotary International.

In 1947 Rotarian John Barrett members of the Rotary Club of Brixton London England conceived the idea of flying a burgee bearing the Rotary Emblem on the masthead of his yacht. He enlisted the help of Fellow Rotarians from his own and Neighboring clubs and proposed a new yachting association of Rotarians. Rotary International approved this new Rotary recreational fellowship under the name of "Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians" Issuing a Charter in 1947.

This Fellowship quickly spread all over Gt Britain and then throughout the world.

In 1956 at the Rotary International Convention in Chicago Bob Stuart of Chicago Illinois was elected Commodore of the Yachting Fellowship and the name of our fellowship was changed to "International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians"

The first International rendezvous of lYFR was held in 1964 in conjunction with the Rotary International Convention of Toronto Canada. Since that time the fellowship has expanded greatly with new fleets being added under the enthusiastic leadership of the many International Commodores who have been elected from a diversity of countries within the world of Rotary.

The Golden Anniversary of lYFR was celebrated in 1987 at the R I Convention in Glasgow Scotland. Past International Commodore Andrew Mitchell authorised, produced, and distributed copies of the Golden Jubilee 1947-1997 a book commemorating the fifty years of lYFR history

The John Barrett Bell was produced and presented to the Yachting Fellowship in the late forties by Past International Commodore Denis Dolby in honour of our Founder Commodore John Barrett and this Bell is presented to all International Commodores when taking office for safe keeping during their term of office.

Today we are not only the oldest, but also one of the largest of all Rotary Fellowships according to Rotary International. We have over a period of time lost many Fleets but we continue to Charter new ones. We now have over 100 yachting fleets in some 23 countries throughout the world. Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, British Virgins Islands, Canada, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the USA. Our membership is in the region of 3000 members, including about 250 independent members that are not affiliated with any of the fleets.