The Star Class was founded at Port Washington, Long Island, in 1911. Initially 22 Stars were built. Fifteen went to owners at the American Yacht Club in Rye, New York, and the remainder to other clubs on Western Long Island Sound. Since then the rig has been improved and modernized several times, but the hull design remains unchanged.

In January 1922, the Star Class Yacht Racing Association was created at a meeting in New York City. A constitution and a set of by-laws were adopted, and five fleet charters granted. This was the first one-design association, and with far-sighted leadership was nursed through its formative years into the successful international organization that its members enjoy today. With over 160 local fleets in 27 countries, it is considered the world's greatest one-design racing class. Approximately 8,000 Stars have been built to date (1989), all unified under the umbrella of the I.S.C.Y.R.A.

International officers include the President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer. Class policy is set by the International Governing Committee, with representatives from Europe, North America, South America, and Australia. Some tasks are handled by special committees such as the Administrative, Judicial, Development, Technical, and Measurement committees. There are also fleet captains and secretaries, district secretaries and continental vice presidents, all performing various local functions.

A monthly newsletter "Starlights" is published, along with the annual year book, "The Log". These publications contain descriptions and accounts of club events, and more importantly, race results, class rules and regulations, specifications, and other by-laws of the Association (The G.W. Blunt White Library has a complete set of "Starlights", and "The Log", cataloged and available for research.)

For a more detailed history of the I.S.C.Y.R.A. we suggest Forty Years Among the Stars, by George Elder, pub. 1955. A copy is in the Library's collection cataloged as: Rare Books GV 823 I5.7 E4.2 ALSO: A History of The Star Class; The First Eighty Years, by C. Stanley Ogilvy, pub. 1991. A copy of this book is also in the Library's collection. (Revised Jan. 1994)