Safety

Safety Resources

Hoofer Sailing Club Safety Manual (PDF)

Wisconsin Boating Laws & Regulations (PDF)

A Boater's Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (PDF)

Lake Mendota Buoy (Water Temperature & Wind Weather Station)

Quick Guide to Lake Mendota (PDF)

Why Do We Need Safety Rules?

Although sailing can be loads of fun, the potential hazards of water sports are also great including injuries and drowning. As the skipper of your craft, it is important to recognize that the skipper is responsible for the safety of all your crew and equipment (your boat) at all times. Ask any longtime sailors about their "stories" about what went wrong. They will have plenty. As one sails more and gains more experience, one becomes wise and more cautious in preventing potential hazards. Once you are in trouble, there are at least two things you can do to increase your safety.

  • Wear a snug-fitting lifejacket any time you are on the water.
  • Always stay with your craft (even if capsized) unless someone is right there to put you into his or her boat. The boat is easily spotted.


You can also take these additional steps to increase your safety.

  • Check the weather forecast before you go out and watch the weather as you sail.
  • Teach your crew effectively on basic sailing to increase their safety.
  • Develop your skill by sailing as much as you can
  • When at Hoofers, properly check out your equipment in the boathouse every time you're on the water (so that we know that you are on the water and may need rescue).

Will knowing the potential risks associated with water sports diminish your fun? Certainly not. Knowing the potential dangers and the following safety rules designed to keep you out of danger is the best way to insure that you have fun. Safe sailing to you!

VHF Radio Channels

Channel 16 - Distress, Safety & Calling, monitored by UW Lifesaving

Channel 68 - Hoofer Youth Program (also used by OUW groups)

Channel 69 - General Hoofer & OUW Communication, monitored by OUW Front Desk

Channel 71 - MYC Race Committee

Channel 78A - MYC Racing - Competitor Information

Flags

Determination of conditions as indicated by flags is set by the UWPD Lake Rescue & Safety, which is operated by the UW-Madison Police Department. The flag pole is located in front of the Boathouse.

The UWPD Lake Rescue & Safety may sound the steam whistle located on the top of the Lake Safety Tower upon closing the lake due to a storm and one hour before sunset (to inform sailors they should begin to head in). In the event of a storm, red lights shall flash from the end of Picnic Point, the Tenney Park Locks, the Lake Safety Tower, and the UWPD Lake Rescue & Safety Station. The mechanical warning devices are subject to failure so the flags take precedence if in conflict with the light signal. Hoofers are required to obey the following flags which tell current weather conditions. Flags may change in the middle of the day (green to blue, or non-yellow to yellow)—penalties may be incurred for not following the current flags.

Green Flag

Green

Light winds up to 18 mph although this limit may be lowered to 15 mph for gusting winds and large waves, or if there are too many capsizes for the rescue services to handle.

Sailors with a light rating may sail.

Yellow Flag

Greenyellowflag

Cautionary flag requires sailors to stay within the Yellow Line, which is an imaginary line running from the tip of Picnic Point to the red and white Oscar Mayer smokestack.

The yellow flag appears in addition to the green or blue flag and is flown when:

  • Storms are possible
  • Water temperature is below 60 °F (15 °C)
  • Visibility is very poor
  • One hour before sunset (evening steam whistle warning)
  • A Slow-No-Wake is in effect

Blue Flag

Blueflag

Heavier winds 18 to 30 mph or winds over 15 mph with too many rescues for the rescue services to handle.

Sailors with a heavy rating may sail.

Red Flag

Redflag

Lake is closed. No sailing equipment is allowed out. If the lake is closed because of a storm, all sailors must return to Hoofers by the most direct method.

Blue/Red Flag

Blueredflag

Very heavy winds greater than 30 mph. The yellow line is in effect regardless of other factors. The following are the only boats allowed out and the requirements of each are as follows:

  • Windsurfers - when the sailor has a short board extreme rating.
  • Techs — when the skipper has a heavy weather Tech rating and a heavy weather rating in any other fleet besides windsurfers.
  • 420s — when the skipper has a heavy weather 420 rating and a heavy weather rating in any other fleet besides 420s, techs, and windsurfers, and the crew has a 420 heavy weather rating.
  • Lasers — are allowed out when the skipper has a heavy weather Laser rating and a heavy weather rating on any other fleet other than Techs and windsurfers.
  • Keelboats follow keelboat policy addendum (Appendix D).
  • Scows — not allowed out, including any scows racing in the Mendota Yacht Club races.
  • Bytes — not allowed out.
  • Sloops — not allowed out, Sloops are only allowed out under Green and Green/Yellow Flags.

No Flag

Closed

No Flag is flown outside of UW Lake Safety Hours.