History Of Sailing on Flathead Lake
Drive into the town of Dayton, Montana today and you’ll find far more sailboats than people around town. However, this wasn’t always the case. The history of sailing on Flathead Lake began long after most of the towns around Flathead Lake were already incorporated. 
1930s: The times before sailing on Flathead Lake
Prior to the existence of the north and south Flathead Lake marinas, the towns of Somers and Dayton were bustling with boats— just not sailboats! Beginning in the 1930s, tug boats, such as the Paul Bunyon on display at the Miracle of America Museum in Polson, would pull up to the railroad trestle in Dayton and hook on to the logs piled and chained up just beyond the shoreline. From there, they would pull the lumber north, over to the trestle at Somers, or south to Polson.
If you go searching for the trestle in Dayton today, you’ll find yourself at the South Flathead Yacht Club. Likewise, if you make your way to the old trestle location in Somers, you’ll end up at the North Flathead Yacht Club!
1960s: Sailboats arrive on Flathead Lake
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, sailboats began to pop up across Flathead Lake. In fact, a Thistle racing fleet emerged from Polson Bay in 1960s! The lake likely allured passionate sailors with its reliable thermal winds. In the mornings, thermals make for perfect sailing conditions on the south end of Flathead Lake while the evening thermals make for ideal sailing further north.
1970s: Flathead Lake sailboat racing picks up steam
The 1970s were a pivotal time in the history of Flathead Lake sailing. The North Flathead Yacht Club was established in Somers in 1975. However, sailboat racing was taking off on the lake’s southern end too. To the south, sailors could choose between racing with the Big Arm Bay Racing Fleet (known lovingly as “BARF”) or sailing in Polson. Most serious sailors still chose to sail out of Somers because there was no established marina or yacht club in Dayton yet. Instead, a lot of the races were held off of people’s personal docks on the southern end of Flathead Lake.
1980s: The establishment of the Dayton Marina
Racing off of private docks came to an end on Flathead’s southern shores in the 1980s when Jim Lekander bought the railroad trestle, updated it, and turned it into a marina. Along with a 750-foot dock, Jim also created a clubhouse and rented sailboats out of the marina with the promise of “guaranteed winds.”
Early 2000s: continuing the sailing tradition
In 2007, Jim sold the marina to Buck Love– who still owns the marina to this day! In 2013, Buck built The Harbor House and the Yacht Club had a new, beautiful home! With kitchen facilities, bathrooms, showers, and a scenic deck with a BBQ area, the Harbor House became the perfect hang out for the area’s sailors.
2016: Montana’s first ASA sailing school
It wasn’t until 2016 that the final piece of the sailing puzzle was added to Flathead Lake’s sailing history— an accredited sailing school! Go Sail Flathead Lake opened its doors in 2016 and Captain Genevieve and her crew of sailing instructors have been teaching both new and seasoned sailors ever since. From learning the basics of sailing, to honing in on sailboat racing skills and certifying sailors for bareboat cruising— it’s all possible at Go Sail Flathead Lake!
Go Sail Flathead Lake offers sailing courses, as well as sailboat tours, throughout the summer beginning at the Dayton Marina. Learn more about the courses and sign up for one yourself here.