Very little is prettier than a view of a clear day on a mountain lake, a handful of sailboats cutting across the azure surface. The Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club agrees. It is a part of their mission to keep sails shining on Lake Arrowhead.

Since its establishment in 1932, the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club has been situated on the beautiful shores of Lake Arrowhead. Open from Memorial Day until Labor Day, this club’s mission is to further the sport of sailing. The club fulfills this mission by operating a marina on Lake Arrowhead and hosting a number of sailing events throughout the season.

In addition to supporting the sport of sailing in the Lake Arrowhead area, the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club offers a beautifully appointed clubhouse. The club offers a welcoming and close-knit community for members. While it is a private club, the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club is a must-see location for sailing lovers in the area.

History

Surrounded by the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest, Lake Arrowhead is an idyllic locale. However, the lake itself is man-made. Initially, the lake was formed after construction began on a dam on Little Bear Creek in 1904. The dam was planned to provide water for irrigation in the San Bernardino Valley. However, due to disputes over water rights, those plans were scrapped for the next eighteen years.

Plans for a dam on Little Bear Creek were resurrected by the Arrowhead Lake Company, which saw a lot of potential in the abandoned dam project. Because the surrounding area is so beautiful, Arrowhead Lake Co. planned to finish construction on the dam and create a resort community that would attract people from nearby Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. The dam was completed in 1922.

By 1932, a group of ardent sailing lovers had decided that there needed to be an association to promote sailing on Lake Arrowhead.
A marina was installed within ten years, and the first clubhouse was leased in 1948. Over the rest of the 20th century, the clubhouse was moved to its present location, the marina was expanded, and the club grew into a community. It has continued for the past 85 years because it has never lost sight of its mission: to give a home to the sailing community on Lake Arrowhead and promote sailing as a sport.

Clubhouse

The clubhouse at the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club boasts a patio, a full bar, and luxurious sit-down dining. The decor in the clubhouse is bright and breezy, with a definite nautical theme. The patio offers a full view of the marina and the lake. The patio and bar are open Wednesday through Sunday for the duration of the summer season. The sit-down restaurant offers weekly family dinners on Fridays. The clubhouse also offers theme dinners on Saturday evenings and brunch on Sunday mornings.

While the yacht club only holds events during the summer season, it does host social gatherings in the fall and spring as well. By all accounts, these are not to be missed. However, because the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club is a private club, only members and their guests are able to partake in these occasions.

Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club Events

To further the sport of sailing, the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club hosts several events throughout the sailing season. The club is open for ten weekends every summer. Each weekend, roughly eight different fleets, or types of sailboats, race in three events over the weekend. The season opens with the Commodore Series around Memorial Day and finishes with an annual regatta on the Labor Day weekend. Whether watching experienced sailors pilot scows and gearies to victory or doing the sailing oneself, this is a great way to spend a Saturday. This is fun for the whole family.

The Antique and Classic Wooden boat show is hosted every year on the nearby Lake Arrowhead village docks. Occurring on September 10th and 11th in 2017, this event coincides with the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club’s annual regatta. This is a great opportunity to get a look at rare and antique boat styles, as well as old-fashioned “woodie” station wagons and hot rods.

In conclusion, the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club is a treasure cradled by the San Bernardino Mountains. This yacht club is a great place to unwind and have a cocktail, watch a race, or go out on the water.