The Hoofer Sailing Club, established in 1939, is a collection of students and community members working to promote sailing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by providing the organization, equipment, infrastructure, instruction, and financing necessary to encourage recreational and competitive sailing.
Membership includes unlimited lessons and boat usage. Our fleet, one of the largest in the nation, includes dinghies, keelboats, windsurfing and even winter kiting. We encourage all our members to volunteer, to become instructors and to be involved in club leadership.
By doing as much of the work ourselves, we can keep our membership dues as low as possible. Not only does our structure keep our costs low, but it also has tremendous social potential. When you teach others to sail or get involved in our periodic work parties and social events, you meet new people and create friendships. You also get a chance to learn a great deal about boat operations and maintenance-- a great thing if you dream of owning a boat someday.
Our club is open to any level of sailing experience from beginners just wanting to take a few lessons and learn the basics of sailing, to our intercollegiate sailing team that often ranks in the top 20 in the nation.
See you on the lake....
News
No Sailing Experience Required!
This year's Commodore's Cup is a 6-day activity taking place during the last full week of August and culminates with a formal ball at the end. This event celebrates both the sailing and social aspects of the club and stems from delightfully wacky traditions formed during the typical doldrums due to lack of wind we experience in July.
A special winter seminar is being held on March 6th at 6:30 in the festival room. Members and racers from the MYC will be there for a meet-and-greet.
Agenda:
- Why race sailboats
- History of E Scows
- Why race and E Scow – A Love Letter
- Spinnaker work
- Mendota Yacht Club
- Racing terms and what to expect.
- Tips for crew
- How to get involved
Nominations for Commodore, Vice-Commodore, or Rear Commodore will open February 21st and close the 27th. Be sure to check the Elections page for updates and anything else you might need to know
Applications for Sailing Instructors for the 2024 season are now opoen! Check out the details on the Teach Sailing page for info.
Thank you everyone for your help lifting out boats for this year! We only have a few boats left to get out so be sure to check the lessons page for any volunteer opportunities.
Upcoming Events
T10 Engine Winterization
All, we need to complete engine winterization on Ratty and Siege.
The boats are at our winter storage facility which is located at W7169 Ramsey Road, Arlington, WI.
T10 Engine Winterization
All, we need to complete engine winterization on Ratty and Siege.
The boats are at our winter storage facility which is located at W7169 Ramsey Road, Arlington, WI.
Outdoor Explorer Series: Cooking in the Outdoors
Join Outdoor UW for another informative course in the Outdoor Explorer Series (OES). Learn and practice a new skill that will make you more comfortable and excited for your next adventure!
Cooking in the Outdoors
The focus of this class is all about planning, preparing, and showing techniques to cook healthy and nutritious meals while on remote backcountry camping trips. We will describe all that goes into executing meals for you and your friends while camping. This includes how to create a plan that provides flexibility for a multi-day camping trip. Shows participants how to set up a stove and walks through the process of cooking a backcountry meal. We also will describe and demonstrate some advanced techniques, such as backcountry baking, using fire for cooking, as well as sharing pro tips for those new to backcountry cooking.
Upon completion of this class, participants will:
- Understand the amount of calories that are being burned during outdoor activities
- Understand the basics micro and macro nutrients used to build a recipe
- Describe the value of a well rounded nutritious diet that offset energy expenditure
- Envision ways to plan and prepare ration based on the trip and participants
- Learn about the types cooking supplies needed to cook in the backcountry
- Learn about ways to cook in the backcountry and practice with cooking tools
--- Class is located in the Mendota Lodge on the water lever of Memorial Union (along the lakefront and across from the Outdoor UW office) ----
*** If you are a person with a disability needing reasonable accommodation for this course, please contact our Dan Dunne, ddunne@wisc.edu ***
Security
Security is the process of stowing our equipment and locking up the Club for the evening. By signing up for this lesson, you will be awarded volunteer hours for the time you are there.
Security can start 30 minutes before Lake Rescue and Safety closes, and fifteen minutes before Outdoor UW closes.
Click here for the security checklist (short version).
Click here for the security checklist with pictures (with more details).
If you have any issues during your security shift or are unable to complete a task, please fill this form.
Reach out to the Head of Instruction with any questions or notes.
Note for Event Leaders: Once an instructor has signed up as event leader for a security event, the evening is their responsibility, and if they become unavailable they are expected to find someone to replace them.
Location: Meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.
Advanced Dinghy Classroom
Event Information: This two hour classroom lesson will cover a variety of topics on small-boat-sailing and other general information to help new sailors hone their skills and progress into the more advanced fleets. Topics covered include:
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Physics of sailing
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Effective use of sail controls
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Heavy wind sailing considerations
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Effective seating positions and hiking techniques
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Right-of-way rules
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Introduction to sailboat racing
Instructors will endeavor to leave time at the end of the lesson to answer individual questions.
Location: Check the Today in the Union website or the digital signs in Memorial Union on the day of the lesson. Note that the event start time may appear earlier on the TITU listing but will begin at the time shown here. If the event does not appear on the TITU listing, please go to the Outdoor UW Office and speak with the staff to determine the event location.
Prerequisites: This Classroom lesson is intended for students who are working toward or have already obtained a Tech Light or Zest Light Rating. Attending this course and having earned either a Tech or Zest Light allows members to take lessons in the Advanced Dinghies (Laser, Byte, and 420).
Students who take this lesson will receive an Advanced Dinghy Classroom Attendance rating. This rating, along with a Tech or Zest Light rating, will allow a student to sign up for 420, Laser, and Byte lessons.
Post-Lesson Resources:
Security
Security is the process of stowing our equipment and locking up the Club for the evening. By signing up for this lesson, you will be awarded volunteer hours for the time you are there.
Security can start 30 minutes before Lake Rescue and Safety closes, and fifteen minutes before Outdoor UW closes.
Click here for the security checklist (short version).
Click here for the security checklist with pictures (with more details).
If you have any issues during your security shift or are unable to complete a task, please fill this form.
Reach out to the Head of Instruction with any questions or notes.
Note for Event Leaders: Once an instructor has signed up as event leader for a security event, the evening is their responsibility, and if they become unavailable they are expected to find someone to replace them.
Location: Meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.
Bebop Lift Out
We are lifting out Bebop. Come help derig, lift out, clean, and prepare for transport. Work hours will be assessed.
Security
Security is the process of stowing our equipment and locking up the Club for the evening. By signing up for this lesson, you will be awarded volunteer hours for the time you are there.
Security can start 30 minutes before Lake Rescue and Safety closes, and fifteen minutes before Outdoor UW closes.
Click here for the security checklist (short version).
Click here for the security checklist with pictures (with more details).
If you have any issues during your security shift or are unable to complete a task, please fill this form.
Reach out to the Head of Instruction with any questions or notes.
Note for Event Leaders: Once an instructor has signed up as event leader for a security event, the evening is their responsibility, and if they become unavailable they are expected to find someone to replace them.
Location: Meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.
Wisco Sailing Team Highschool Race Clinic
Two-day advanced racing clinic that exposes highschool students to high-level coaching. Breakfast and lunch will be provided both days, as well as a T-shirt, info sessions, and campus tours. Dry suits required.
EVENT PUT ON BY THE WISCONSIN SAILNG TEAM.
SAILORS: Check in at the Mendota Lodge in the Memorial Union at 8:45AM both days! (accross the hall from the outdoor UW desk)
Please email uwsailingrecruitment@gmail.com with any questions.
Security
Security is the process of stowing our equipment and locking up the Club for the evening. By signing up for this lesson, you will be awarded volunteer hours for the time you are there.
Security can start 30 minutes before Lake Rescue and Safety closes, and fifteen minutes before Outdoor UW closes.
Click here for the security checklist (short version).
Click here for the security checklist with pictures (with more details).
If you have any issues during your security shift or are unable to complete a task, please fill this form.
Reach out to the Head of Instruction with any questions or notes.
Note for Event Leaders: Once an instructor has signed up as event leader for a security event, the evening is their responsibility, and if they become unavailable they are expected to find someone to replace them.
Location: Meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.
Security
Security is the process of stowing our equipment and locking up the Club for the evening. By signing up for this lesson, you will be awarded volunteer hours for the time you are there.
Security can start 30 minutes before Lake Rescue and Safety closes, and fifteen minutes before Outdoor UW closes.
Click here for the security checklist (short version).
Click here for the security checklist with pictures (with more details).
If you have any issues during your security shift or are unable to complete a task, please fill this form.
Reach out to the Head of Instruction with any questions or notes.
Note for Event Leaders: Once an instructor has signed up as event leader for a security event, the evening is their responsibility, and if they become unavailable they are expected to find someone to replace them.
Location: Meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.
Sewing Machine Intro — Craft a Burgee!
Get started on your way to repairing sails and sewing canvaswork—such as sail covers, boat covers, sheet bags, etc.—by learning about sewing machines, and crafting your own Hoofer Sailing Club burgee! This 2-session class will (tentatively) consist of:
Session 1: Learn about the mechanisms that make a modern, lockstitch sewing machine work; how to wind a bobbin; how to thread the machine; the importance of thread tension; types of needles and presser feet; straight and zig-zag stitches. Practice sewing seams and hems.
Session 2: Apply your knowledge from session 1 to craft a burgee: Hem the base fabric; apply decorative stitches to attach the red fabric for the 'W', white fabric for the star; and trim them to shape. Then, apply flag tape along the fly (edge next to the flag pole), and install brass grommets. The result is a real burgee that you can take home to hang on your wall, or fly on your boat.
The goal of this class is to start training a group of club members who will have the skill to use an industrial sewing machine to take on a list of projects to make the club's boats better: sail repairs, new main sail covers, repair or replace covers for the scow fleet, or recycle old sails into useful items, like tote bags.
P.S. Fair warning, we might ask you to pay it forward, and help teach other folks these skills, too!
Minnesota Hockey Game
The Wisconsin Hoofers are attending a Wisconsin Men's Hockey Game vs. Minnesota! This is a Hoofer-wide social that is open to members of any Hoofer club while tickets are available.
Sewing Machine Intro — Craft a Burgee!
Get started on your way to repairing sails and sewing canvaswork—such as sail covers, boat covers, sheet bags, etc.—by learning about sewing machines, and crafting your own Hoofer Sailing Club burgee! This 2-session class will (tentatively) consist of:
Session 1: Learn about the mechanisms that make a modern, lockstitch sewing machine work; how to wind a bobbin; how to thread the machine; the importance of thread tension; types of needles and presser feet; straight and zig-zag stitches. Practice sewing seams and hems.
Session 2: Apply your knowledge from session 1 to craft a burgee: Hem the base fabric; apply decorative stitches to attach the red fabric for the 'W', white fabric for the star; and trim them to shape. Then, apply flag tape along the fly (edge next to the flag pole), and install brass grommets. The result is a real burgee that you can take home to hang on your wall, or fly on your boat.
The goal of this class is to start training a group of club members who will have the skill to use an industrial sewing machine to take on a list of projects to make the club's boats better: sail repairs, new main sail covers, repair or replace covers for the scow fleet, or recycle old sails into useful items, like tote bags.
Outdoor Explorer Series: Backpack Like a Pro
Join Outdoor UW for another informative course in the Outdoor Explorer Series (OES). Learn and practice a new skill that will make you more comfortable and excited for your next adventure!
Backpack Like a Pro
Have you ever been interested in learning about what backpacking is all about? Have you ever wondered why is it popular, how do people get into it, where do they go, what do they need, is it possible to backpack and still be comfortable out there? Come to this class and get these questions answered so you can get ready for your first backpacking trip of the season.
Upon completion of this class, participants will:
- Learn about what backpacking is and why it is a popular outdoor activity
- Learn about the gear and supplies needed to backpack effectively and comfortably while also creatively thinking of substitutions they have that can be used in place of high-end/expensive gear.
- Learn how to effectively pack a backpack
- Learn about local areas that will be good spots for your first backpacking trip and what time of year is the best to visit these location
- Get hands on practice with packing a backpack
--- Class is located in the Mendota Lodge on the water lever of Memorial Union (along the lakefront and across from the Outdoor UW office) ----
*** If you are a person with a disability needing reasonable accommodation for this course, please contact our Dan Dunne, ddunne@wisc.edu ***
Friendsgiving at the Union!
Come join us for a traditional Thanksgiving Meal with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. Come with a friend or make a new acquaintance at the Wisconsin Union’s holiday event. UW–Madison students like you will feast on favorites like sliced turkey, butternut squash lasagna, sage stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and more! All topped off with pecan and pumpkin pie. Expect lively conversation and fun activities including making cards for UW–Madison students staying in town for the Thanksgiving holiday
Date: November 19, 2024
Time: 5:00-6:30 pm (dinner starts promptly at 5:00 pm)
Location: Tripp Commons, Memorial Union (2nd floor)
Cancellation and Refund Information
The deadline to register and pay is November 5, 2024 at 5pm. No refunds after November 5th.
Lake Mendota Conditions
How to Join
1. Create your Account!
Head over to our member site at https://members.hoofers.org to create your account! You don't have to officially join the club yet, but this will be required to sign up for Ground School. You must be a Union Member to officially join the club. Note that UW-Madison students are automatically granted Union membership.
2. Ground School!
Join us for Ground School, a FREE on-land presentation! This 90 minute guided tour and information session is required for all new Hoofer Sailing Club members. Ground School is available to Hoofer Sailing Club members, as well as to the broader campus community. Sign up here!
3. Sign Up for Events!
Once you've joined the club, you can search for events and sign up from the member site. Pick your favorite event, sign up, and get ready for an adventure!
For more information, click the button below!
Contact Us
Hoofer Sailing Club
Memorial Union, Lower Level
800 Langdon St.
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-1630
info@hoofersailing.org
Contact Us
Hoofer Youth Program
The Hoofer Youth Program offers quality on-the-water instruction with a focus on fun and learning. Courses in sailing, windsurfing, and racing are open to youth ages 10-18 and range from beginner to advanced.
Programs are designed to teach outdoor recreation skills while encouraging youth to have fun and develop personally in the areas of communication, self-reliance, sportsmanship, and respect for others. Hoofers promotes a constant awareness of safety, emphasizes the importance of working together, and teaches students to adapt themselves to the forces of nature.