Sailing Story: Second Rhapsody
When Go Sail Flathead Lake first heard that Captain Pat Montgomery wanted to sell his beloved Capri 22 “Second Rhapsody” to Go Sail, the news sounded too good to be true.
Go Sail’s owner, Captain Genevieve, had recently found herself in the market for a new Capri 22 and Captain Pat had been toying with the idea of selling his boat for a while. Then, his decision to sell Second Rhapsody was cemented when the boat fell off its trailer and the rudder broke. Captain Pat took that as a sign— and Captain Genevieve took it as a well timed blessing.
“Taking on Second Rhapsody for the sailing school is a legacy handed down
from 40 years of sailing,” Captain Genevieve said. “This is the type of boat you want to buy. It is turn key and ready to go.”
For Pat, handing off the boat he had owned since 1987 to Go Sail made him feel proud of the sale rather than regretful about seeing it go.
“I have always been so excited to see your sailing students coming down the dock. They look so happy and in the moment,” Captain Pat told Captain Genevieve. “Now, I think about how many sailors will learn to sail on my boat and that makes me happy. I can let it go and know Second Rhapsody is in a good place. It is bittersweet but happy.”
While Second Rhapsody is one of the first Capri 22 sailboats ever built, and the longest sailing boat in the Dayton Harbor, the boat has been meticulously maintained by Captain Pat for decades.
“This boat has been loved and sailed for a long time which means regular maintenance and fundamental repairs have been done,” Captain Genevieve explained. “We have the luxury of fresh water boats with a short sailing season on Flathead Lake. The boats only spend a quarter of their life actually in the water. So in Montana sailing years— Second Rhapsody is only 10!”
Additionally, the Capri 22 is one of Captain Genevieve’s favorite boats to teach new sailors on. It’s fun to sail, simple to operate, and the cockpit is comfortable and roomy. Go Sail Flathead Lake will replace a few parts and lines on the boat but overall, Second Rhapsody is in perfect sailing condition. Especially now that an anonymous donor offered to buy the boat a new rudder!
“Above all it has a history and legacy on Flathead Lake,” Captain Genevieve said. “After the deal was done, we hugged and shed a tear as Captain Pat’s ownership transferred to Go Sail Flathead Lake.”
“The school will take care of her and benefit all the sailing community,” Captain Genevieve told Captain Pat. “This is a true legacy you can be happy about.”