Special thanks to Jake Dreyfous for his contributions to this article.
The Event
What: Sailfest ‘24
When: June 15th from 10am-Dusk
Where: Great Salt Lake State Park and Marina
After five years of being on hold due to low lake levels, Sailfest is back! On June 15th, the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club is partnering with Grow the Flow to host Sailfest–an event that will bring Utah citizens of all walks of life together to bring awareness to the restoration effort of Great Salt Lake. This celebration, from 10am-Dusk, is free of charge and will combine a sailboat regatta, live music, booths, yard games, food trucks, an opportunity drawing, a cardboard boat race, and many opportunities to connect with nature, animals, and local businesses who all support Great Salt Lake. You can find the festivities schedule, more information on the event, and sign up here!
Yacht Club History
Founded in 1877, the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club is one of the oldest running yacht clubs in the country. The original fleet and sailors included the crew of “Mary Askey,” “Waterwitch,” “Petrel,” and an unnamed boat owned by a mysterious man named Mr. Hudson. Several sailboat races and cruises were hosted throughout the 1880s and 1890s. Throughout its nearly 150 year history, the yacht club has gone through many iterations and fluctuations, much like Great Salt Lake. From races to charters or a simple place for social gathering, membership and participation has changed constantly over time. Most recently, seasoned sailors often reminisce of decades passed, where the lake overflowed with water and whipping winds took them across our inland sea. Low lake levels have kept the yacht club in a state of uncertainty, but the recent snows mark the beginning of their revival, capped by an exciting celebration at Sailfest ‘24.
Sailfest has a rich history dating back roughly 30 years. Originally an opportunity for sailors and their communities to race and enjoy the lake, Grow the Flow is grateful to partner with the Yacht Club this year to make Sailfest ‘24 an accessible, exciting celebration for anyone who hopes to connect with Great Salt Lake. This expanded iteration of Sailfest is made possible by the unfailing support of sponsoring businesses, committed volunteers, State Park employees, and non-profit partners.
Highlighting Our Sponsors
Myriad Genetic has focused on the well-being and advancement of health for everyone for more than 30 years. Myriad leads in genetic testing and medicine, allowing healthcare providers to detect, treat, and prevent disease, while also providing insights that help others take control of their personal health journey. They support the restoration efforts of Great Salt Lake and the conservation of natural resources.
Foley & Lardner LLP is a leading law firm in healthcare and life sciences, technology, energy, and manufacturing. Foley & Lardner strives for diversity, equity, and inclusion in all they do as their work starts and ends with the people.
The Great Salt Lake Project was launched by the Wallace Stegner Center of the S.J. Quinney College of Law and centers to accelerate legal analysis and solution-based policy necessary to save Great Salt Lake. They provide valuable counsel to policymakers and stakeholders who are set on protecting our lake.
Great Salt Lake Artemia specializes in the sustainable harvest of brine shrimp products directly from the lake we’re trying so hard to save. This fishery and those managing it recently received Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) sustainable wild fishery certification, making it the first inland fishery in the United States to earn this prestigious certification.
Pelion Venture Partners is one of the first and longest running venture capital firms in Utah. Founded in the 1980s, Pelion has helped new entrepreneurs in Utah and beyond turn their creative concepts into real leading companies. They aspire to achieve entrepreneur success, empathy, curiosity, and community, and they are committed to the sustainable future of Utah, their home.
The Picot Company West is a highly ranked preeminent landscape development company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They provide a wide range of landscaping services, and are excited about the opportunity to expand water-efficient landscaping for the benefit of Great Salt Lake.
The Ogden Clinic, established in 1950, is committed to providing for the constantly changing healthcare needs of the families of Davis and Weber counties. Their goals are to make healthcare accessible and high-quality. As healthcare providers, they recognize the importance of preserving Great Salt Lake to protect the public health of Wasatch Front residents.
Varex Imaging is a preeminent innovator, manufacturer, and developer in X-ray imaging solutions worldwide. Their new Sustainability Strategy focuses on development, research, and manufacturing to local communities.
Tracy Aviary is one of only two free-standing aviaries in the nation. They are long-standing leaders in community education and empowerment, and their newly established Jordan River Nature Center provides unprecedented access to green space and place-based education for marginalized communities in South Salt Lake.
Epic Brewing became Utah’s first brewery to produce high-alcohol content beer since prohibition. Established in 2009, they focus on pushing boundaries in their industry, quality, and freshness, while emphasizing giving back to the communities and ecologies they call home.
Buchalter has been a leading business law firm for more than 90 years, providing legal counsel at every level of growth. Buchalter is regularly ranked among leading law firms by The Daily Journal and Los Angeles Business Journal. They are equally committed to community empowerment, providing pro-bono counsel and sitting on boards and advisory councils to assist highly-impactful organizations in Utah and the United States.
Sailfest is a unique opportunity to bring the community together and it can’t be missed! See you there!