When Dr. Andrew McIrvine, 70, who said he had been sailing since he was 12, took over running the International Maxi Association as secretary general in 2013, he said he inherited a yachting race organization of aging sailors.

These large yachts, which compete next month in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, once had only one club and one regatta, he said. McIrvine, a vascular surgeon from London, helped the association grow and established uniform racing standards. He also serves as the association’s Covid-19 specialist during the pandemic.