Hoofer Sailing Club
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Tong Family Marina
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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
We are happy to announce our new Summer 2019 Head of Instruction, former Commodore, Mills Botham.
Mills had this to say about his new position in the club:
"I am deeply honored to accept the Head of Instruction Position for Summer 2019. The Hoofer Sailing Club has been my home for more than half my life; I'm overjoyed to be able to continue to serve the Club in this new capacity, and to get to be a part of this incredibly exciting period in our history. I have high hopes for a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing all of you around the lakefront!"
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.
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
Upcoming Events
Commodore Office Hours
Come swing by the Mendota Lounge to talk about all things sailing!
I'm holding (very informal) office hours for anyone and everyone to swing by and ask questions about the club in a more personal setting. If you cannot make it, e-mail me at commodore@hoofersailing.org to set up a different time.
Weekly Hoofer Council Meeting
Hoofer Council meets weekly from 8:00 to 9:30 pm on Mondays. Your Commodore, Lukas Duddleston, represents the club at the Hoofer Council level. If you had ideas, questions, concerns, etc. that you believe should be taken up at the Council level, please email the Commodore at commodore@hoofersailing.org.
Additionally, this year's VP-Admin on Council is one of our own, Charlie Childs. She also serves as the sailing club's treasurer.
Commodore Office Hours
Come swing by the Mendota Lounge to talk about all things sailing!
I'm holding (very informal) office hours for anyone and everyone to swing by and ask questions about the club in a more personal setting. If you cannot make it, e-mail me at commodore@hoofersailing.org to set up a different time.
Lift-In Setup Crew
We will meet in the limnology parking lot. We are looking for some early risers to help us get barricades setup.
Lift-In: Sign-Up Coordinator
Meet at the limnology parking lot at 6:30am. You will be responsible for signing in/out volunteers, as well as keeping track of work hours.
Lift-In: Motorboat Crew
Meet at the lakefront in the limnology parking lot.
We need 2 crew on each shift to assist the designated motorboat drivers to help position the Keelboats after they are splashed into the water. Towboats will then be needed to tow some of the boats to the Hoofer piers or out to their pins. No experience required, but a motorboat rating would be a plus.
Lift-In: J Fleet Rigging Crew
Meet in the limnology parking lot.
Assist in the initial rigging of the J/Fleet. No experience necessary! Each boat will need some crew to stay with them through the Lift-In process. A variety of miscellaneous tasks will also be needed. More directions will be given by the Instructor of this lesson. Please sign up to help as this is the Club's BIG DAY.
Lift-In: Heavy Keelboat Rigging Crew
Meet on the lakefront in the limnology parking lot.
Assist in the initial rigging of the Keelboat Fleet. No experience necessary! Each boat will need some crew to stay with them through the Lift-In process. A variety of miscellaneous tasks will also be needed. More directions will be given by the Instructor of this lesson. Please sign up to help as this is the Club's BIG DAY.
Lift-In: General Volunteers
Meet in the Limnology parking lot. General volunteers are needed for a variety of positions - these include line handling, traffic control, bottom painting, and cleaning up.
Lift-In: General Volunteers
Meet in the Limnology parking lot. General volunteers are needed for a variety of positions - these include line handling, traffic control, bottom painting, and cleaning up.
Lift-In: Sign-up Coordinator
Meet at the limnology parking lot at 11.00 am. You will be responsible for signing in/out volunteers, as well as keeping track of work hours.
Lift-In: J-Fleet Rigging Crew
Meet in the limnology parking lot.
Assist in the initial rigging of the J/Fleet. No experience necessary! Each boat will need some crew to stay with them through the Lift-In process. A variety of miscellaneous tasks will also be needed. More directions will be given by the Instructor of this lesson. Please sign up to help as this is the Club's BIG DAY.
Lift-In: Heavy Keelboat Rigging Crew
Meet on the lakefront in the limnology parking lot.
Assist in the initial rigging of the Keelboat Fleet. No experience necessary! Each boat will need some crew to stay with them through the Lift-In process. A variety of miscellaneous tasks will also be needed. More directions will be given by the Instructor of this lesson. Please sign up to help as this is the Club's BIG DAY.
Lift-In: Motorboat Crew
Meet at the lakefront in the limnology parking lot.
We need 2 crew on each shift to assist the designated motorboat drivers to help position the Keelboats after they are splashed into the water. Towboats will then be needed to tow some of the boats to the Hoofer piers or out to their pins. No experience required, but a motorboat rating would be a plus.
Bi-Weekly Board of Captains Meeting
Agenda and Meeting Minutes can be found on the Hoofer Sailing Website.
Generally held in the North Chart Room but the Union does occasionally reassign rooms.
Weekly Hoofer Council Meeting
Hoofer Council meets weekly from 8:00 to 9:30 pm on Mondays. Your Commodore, Lukas Duddleston, represents the club at the Hoofer Council level. If you had ideas, questions, concerns, etc. that you believe should be taken up at the Council level, please email the Commodore at commodore@hoofersailing.org.
Additionally, this year's VP-Admin on Council is one of our own, Charlie Childs. She also serves as the sailing club's treasurer.
Commodore Office Hours
Come swing by the Mendota Lounge to talk about all things sailing!
I'm holding (very informal) office hours for anyone and everyone to swing by and ask questions about the club in a more personal setting. If you cannot make it, e-mail me at commodore@hoofersailing.org to set up a different time.
Weekly Hoofer Council Meeting
Hoofer Council meets weekly from 8:00 to 9:30 pm on Mondays. Your Commodore, Lukas Duddleston, represents the club at the Hoofer Council level. If you had ideas, questions, concerns, etc. that you believe should be taken up at the Council level, please email the Commodore at commodore@hoofersailing.org.
Additionally, this year's VP-Admin on Council is one of our own, Charlie Childs. She also serves as the sailing club's treasurer.
Commodore Office Hours
Come swing by the Mendota Lounge to talk about all things sailing!
I'm holding (very informal) office hours for anyone and everyone to swing by and ask questions about the club in a more personal setting. If you cannot make it, e-mail me at commodore@hoofersailing.org to set up a different time.
Bi-Weekly Board of Captains Meeting
Agenda and Meeting Minutes can be found on the Hoofer Sailing Website.
Generally held in the North Chart Room but the Union does occasionally reassign rooms.