Originally NECRA organised interclub yacht racing, oversaw a NECRA rating rule and set safety standards for NECRA racing (and by default, influenced club safety standards). In 2001 NECRA underwent a major re-organisation as it was becomming clear that the remit of NECRA committee was too large and difuse for it to function effectively. The Necra ratings committee became a separate independent body, North East Racing Rule (NERR), with its own club representatives dedicated to maintaining and developing a rating rule for use by NECRA and all NE yacht clubs.
In 2002 the NECRA committee also decided that a separate safety organisation, North East Sailing Safety (NESS) with similar organisation to NERR was equally appropriate. Thus both NESS and NERR were born.