Our memberships are on sale!
We are celebrating our new Marina with discounted Summer and Annual memberships.
Click here for more information
Hoofer Sailing Club
Set Sail
Tong Family Marina
The sailing club is getting an upgrade! This summer will mark our first year with our brand new piers.
Want to know more?
Hoofer Youth
Youth Sailing Summer Camp
UW Sailing Team
GO GO WISCO!
The Hoofer Sailing Club, established in 1939, is a collection of students and community members working together to maintain a fleet of boats for 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 (the best way to become a better sailor) and to be involved in club leadership.
By doing as much of the work as possible ourselves, we can keep our membership dues incredibly low. Compare our dues to other yacht clubs, where you may have to pay up to $1,000 per month in dues just to maintain your membership and then pay hundreds of dollars more for lessons and the expense of private boat ownership.
Not only does our structure keep our costs low, it 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. Friendships made all the stronger by common interests and a shared sense of pride in a job well done. 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.
The majority of our membership is made up of individuals wanting to just take a few lessons and learn the basics of sailing. Yet our intercollegiate sailing team often ranks in the top 20 in the nation. We also have a a committed group of long-time members to add to the great mix that is Hoofer Sailing Club.
News
Unfortunately due to the marina construction taking longer than expected Pirate's Day had to be post-poned until August 24th.
We are going to make lemonade out of these lemons by throwing a Beach Party on June 8th free for all our members!! We will have a steel drum band and food included along with some fun games and competitions. Come join the fun and see the progress on the lakefront!
If you are interested in getting in on Keelboat sailing this summer, just prior to our Life's a Beach Party the keelboat fleets are holding an Intro to Keelboats Clinic from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Signup on the lessons site https://lessons.hoofersailing.org/event/69694
With our new Marina opening soon, we have decided to celebrate by making it easier than ever to get on the water by offering discounts on our Summer and Annual memberships.
We are offering 10% off for those that want to join us for the summer and, for those that are ready to commit to a full year of fun, we are offering 5% off an annual membership that won't expire until the one year anniversary of our new piers being in operation.
Upcoming Events
420 Lesson
Prerequisite: Tech light rating and have taken Advanced Dinghy Classroom. Review the 420 Manual prior to this lesson. This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the Lakelab.
420 Lesson
Prerequisite: Tech light rating and have taken Advanced Dinghy Classroom. Review the 420 Manual prior to this lesson. This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the Lakelab.
Salam
Pre-requisite: Intro to Keelboat or Badger Sloop rating
Location: Meet under the Yellow Canopy
Suggested reading is U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, available in the Outdoor Programs Office.
Salam is an Ericson 26 and her name comes from the Arabic word meaning "Peace." She is part of the club's cruising keelboat fleet and lessons will focus on cruising and general sailing skills including care and use of the inboard diesel engine, sailing with a roller furler jib, and ensuring the crew has a safe and enjoyable sail.
Lessons proceed in all weather conditions except thunderstorms, your instructor may have on-land discussions about sailing theory or advanced topics if the weather doesn’t permit sailing. Dress appropriately; expect cooler temperatures on the lake.
Please bring you rating progress form for check off after the lesson. If you have areas you would like to focus on, please let your instructor know. You can find the progress forms and other instructional material at hoofersailing.org/manuals
Tech A
Read the Tech Manual prior to this lesson. This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the Lakelab. The first day of a Tech A class is always held regardless of adverse weather. Come prepared to sail!
Please watch this videoand be ready to discuss the physics of sailing.
Note: This is a two-day lesson.
Tech A
Read the Tech Manual prior to this lesson. This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the Lakelab. The first day of a Tech A class is always held regardless of adverse weather. Come prepared to sail!
Please watch this videoand be ready to discuss the physics of sailing.
Note: This is a two-day lesson.
Windsurfing B
Prerequisite: Windsurfing A
Earned from this class: Windsurfing Practice or Windsurfing Light rating.
Class Overview: This is where we all began. A general introduction to windsurfing consisting of two, three hour classes. Sailing experience is not necessary, but will help. Topics covered include safety, stewardship of equipment, wind theory, brief terminology, simulator work, rigging, and on-the-water skill development.
In this class, students learn all the basics of understanding the wind, rigging sails and taking care of equipment, uphauling the sail, maneuvering the windsurfer in neutral position, sailing in a straight line, steering the board, getting upwind, and tacking. Students will be on the water both days provided the weather is good, using beginning windsurfing boards.
Preparing for Your Lesson:
· Be prepared to get wet! Bring suitable clothing (shorts and shirt to get wet, a windbreaker/sweatshirt on windier or cooler days).
· Have a lifejacket and be checked out through Outdoor UW before class start.
· Meet at the Lakelab next to the Yellow Canopy at the Hoofer Lakefront.
· The Windsurfing B class is usually held in all weather conditions, except solid blue flag conditions. · Before the lesson, please review the first six windsurfing instruction videos (which are about 15 minutes total), and look at the Windsurfing Manual (especially page 14-Uphauling Your Sail). You can view a video tutorial on rigging and uphauling by clicking on the link. For more information on Windsurfing, please see the Windsurfing Home Page.
Welcome to your windsurfing lesson.
Siege Lesson
Pre-requisite: Intro to Keelboat or Badger Sloop rating
Location: Meet under the Yellow Canopy
Suggested reading is U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, available in the Outdoor Programs Office.
Siege, Sassafras and Rhubarb are Tartan 10s, 33ft fractional rig sloops designed for racing. They are the largest boats in the hoofer fleet and have raced on the Great Lakes! Lessons will focus on basic seamanship as well as learning racing skills such as sailing under spinnaker, fine tuning sail trim, reading the wind and geometry of a course and timing a start.
Lessons proceed in all weather conditions except thunderstorms, your instructor may have on-land discussions about sailing theory or advanced topics if the weather doesn’t permit sailing. Dress appropriately; expect cooler temperatures on the lake.
Please bring you rating progress form for check off after the lesson. If you have areas you would like to focus on, please let your instructor know. You can find the progress forms and other instructional material at hoofersailing.org/manuals
Sassafras
Pre-requisite: Intro to Keelboat or Badger Sloop rating
Location: Meet under the Yellow Canopy
Suggested reading is U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, available in the Outdoor Programs Office.
Siege, Sassafras and Rhubarb are Tartan 10s, 33ft fractional rig sloops designed for racing. They are the largest boats in the hoofer fleet and have raced on the Great Lakes! Lessons will focus on basic seamanship as well as learning racing skills such as sailing under spinnaker, fine tuning sail trim, reading the wind and geometry of a course and timing a start.
Lessons proceed in all weather conditions except thunderstorms, your instructor may have on-land discussions about sailing theory or advanced topics if the weather doesn’t permit sailing. Dress appropriately; expect cooler temperatures on the lake.
Please bring you rating progress form for check off after the lesson. If you have areas you would like to focus on, please let your instructor know. You can find the progress forms and other instructional material at hoofersailing.org/manuals
Intro to Keelboat Sailing
Location: Meet in Mendota Lodge across from Outdoor Programs counter
The Intro to Keelboat Sailing lesson is intended to provide a beginner-friendly path to our heavy and light keelboats. This classroom-based lesson will cover the basics of sailing on a keelboat at hoofers and will allow you to begin taking lessons on our keelboat fleets. This course covers sailing terminology and theory, practical sailing knowledge including knots and safety, and an introduction to the keelboat’s ratings and lesson structure.
All of the material covered in this class can be done on land; this class is not contingent on weather.
It is recommended that you at least review the following knots on the Animated Knots website:
· bowline
· round turn and two half-hitches
· cleating (clove hitch on a cleat)
Please note: it will take quite a while to earn a rating with which you could check out a keelboat yourself if you come through this track. It is advised for members who wish to get out sailing sooner to start on Techs or Badger Sloops, or take both routes concurrently. This will allow you to practice sailing on your own and refine your skills before jumping up to a larger keelboat. It will smooth the learning curve and allow you more time to sail on your own and take your friends out on either a Tech or a Sloop and will not increase the total time to earn a keelboat rating.
Knotty Rascal
Pre-requisite: Intro to Keelboat or Badger Sloop rating
Location: Meet under the Yellow Canopy
Suggested reading is U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, available in the Outdoor Programs Office.
Knotty Rascal is a Precision 27 and is part of the Cruising Keelboat fleet. Lessons on Knotty Rascal will focus on cruising and general sailing skills including care and use of the inboard diesel engine, using wheel steering, sailing with a roller furler jib, and ensuring the crew has a safe and enjoyable sail.
Lessons proceed in all weather conditions except thunderstorms, your instructor may have on-land discussions about sailing theory or advanced topics if the weather doesn’t permit sailing. Dress appropriately; expect cooler temperatures on the lake.
Please bring you rating progress form for check off after the lesson. If you have areas you would like to focus on, please let your instructor know. You can find the progress forms and other instructional material at hoofersailing.org/manuals
Spray
Pre-requisite: Intro to Keelboat or Badger Sloop rating
Location: Meet under the Yellow Canopy
Suggested reading is U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, available in the Outdoor Programs Office.
Spray is a 30 ft classic cruising yacht that has sailed the great lakes before coming to Hoofers in 2003. Lessons on Spray focus on cruising and general sailing skills including care and use of the inboard diesel engine, sailing with a roller furler jib, and ensuring the crew has a safe and enjoyable sail.
Lessons proceed in all weather conditions except thunderstorms, your instructor may have on-land discussions about sailing theory or advanced topics if the weather doesn’t permit sailing. Dress appropriately; expect cooler temperatures on the lake.
Please bring you rating progress form for check off after the lesson. If you have areas you would like to focus on, please let your instructor know. You can find the progress forms and other instructional material at hoofersailing.org/manuals
Tech B
Location: This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the Lakelab. The Tech B lesson is geared for those looking for a Tech light rating. Oftentimes, more than one is required before a rating is achieved. This lesson will take place mostly on the water, so be sure to dress in appropriate clothing that can get wet. Wetsuits are available to be lent out during cold water/weather conditions. Click here to view some of the skills you will be practicing during the Tech A.
Security
Help put the club to sleep and lock it up at the end of the day. Show up 15 minutes before sunset and start to lock up the Techs, 420's, Lasers. Put away all equipment left out into the sailroom or Lakelab. This includes whiteboards, markers, lifejackets, throwables, paddles, sailbags, etc. Bring up all the motorboats. Shut off power to all winches. You will be paid for the time you are there.
Tech A - All In One Long Day
You need to be a member of the Hoofer Sailing Club. Read the Tech Manual prior to this lesson. This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the Lakelab. The first couple of hours of this lesson will always be held regardless of adverse weather. Come prepared to sail!
Please watch this video and be ready to discuss the physics of sailing.
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.