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When you think of outdoor recreation at this time of year, especially after all the snow we've gotten, skiing, boarding and sledding come to mind, of course!
The last thing you'd probably think about is getting on a boat! So why did so many boaters show up at the Great Salt Lake Marina today?
It's breezy, very cold, and boats are covered with fresh snow at the marina; it's not an ideal day for sailing!
Still, members of the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club have gathered as they always do on this day to celebrate what they call "The bottom of the pit!"
Dave Shearer, Harbor Master for Great Salt Lake Marina, said, "It's just a tradition out here. We celebrate the shortest day of the year, that's why we call it "The bottom of the pit," and we look forward to the sailing season coming up."
The celebration always features a chili cook-off. Since the winter solstice is often one of the coldest days of the year, members of the yacht club keep warm with homemade chili recipes: the hotter the better!
They swap stories and look forward to getting back on the water. Sailor Pahoo Laffing Crowfeet said, "We're at 15 percent salinity here at the Great Salt Lake, and we have a lot of fun, and our boats float like 3 inches higher than they normally would on regular water."
In case you didn't know, the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club is the oldest functioning yacht club in the country. It was formed in 1877, nearly two decades before Utah became a state. Shearer said, "Saltiest sailors here on earth, out here in the middle of the desert!"
When the pioneers arrived, boats were used to transport ore and other supplies across the lake to build the railroad; commercial and recreational boating would soon follow.
Today, the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club thrives with races throughout the season. There are boating programs for juniors and active women's boating groups. The club also puts on educational seminars each year.
It's all about having fun on one of the most unique bodies of water in the world. Sailor Janet Robins said, "This is a community, it truly is. There are people here who have been out here since they were 4, 5, 6 years old and who are still out here and still sailing."
The club doesn't wait until summer to start their racing. The first race is next month. It's called the Polar Bear Cup, and then the Winter Regatta is in February.
E-mail: kmccord@ksl.com
