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
Construction of the Tong Family Marina is underway and work is progressing smoothly. We are looking forward to enjoying the marina with all of our members next summer. If you are looking for more information about the marina project check out take a look at the project page here. If you are interested in showing your support for the Marina Project more information on how to donate can be found here.
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
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.
Limnology of Lake Mendota
In this class we will overview of the physical, biological and chemical characteristics of our lake.
Winter Kiting Classroom
Location: Check TITU
Prerequisite: None
This intro class will cover the basics of kiting and serve as an introduction to the sport. Through the viewing of a snowkiting DVD and/or YouTube videos, important concepts and theories will be explained. A trainer kite will also be available, so that aspects of rigging can be taught prior to taking the outdoor classes. A brief talk on ice safety will also be given. Those students who have already progressed to outdoor classes but have yet to see the video are also welcome. This class must be taken prior to earning the "B" or harness rating.
For information on the Kiting fleet we recommend reading the Winter Kiting Manual.
Kiteboarding Safety precaution instruction video
This video uses a water kiteboarding example, but the story is still extremely pertinent & the safety precautions are universal between sports.
Ozone Access, Frenzy, & Summit De-power Foil Kites
Survival in the Ice (what to do when you go through)
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.
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.
Sailing with Spinnakers
Sailing with spinnakers can be the most rewarding and frustrating part of sailing. Learn how to simplify using the sail to make your life easier and more enjoyable on the water with some simple tricks and techniques. We will be covering sets and douses, gybes and the differences between assymetrical and symetrical kites.
These classes are stand-alone seminars presented by Hoofer instructors and other Hoofer friends. These are free, and a current membership is not required for winter education, so feel free to invite your friends.
Check TITU for location
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.
Hoofer Snow Ball
Winter Carnival
Dance the night away (inside) after playing outside all day!
Grab your dancing shoes and join us for a night to remember in the Great Hall at Memorial Union on February 1st for a Winter Carnival tradition, the Hoofer Snow Ball!
DB Orchestra will play live swing music from 7:00-11pm and Instructors from the Madison Swing Dance Club will provide an introductory swing dance lesson from 7:00-7:15pm, with additional moves taught during breaks in the music.
Food will be provided, with drinks available for purchase, and alcoholic beverages available for guests 21 and over.
Tickets are $8 for this amazing event and are available online immediately and in-person starting January 22nd, 2019 at the Outdoor UW Office in Memorial Union. Tickets will also be available at the door the evening of the event if the event is not sold out.
This event is open to hoofers, their guests, and anyone eligible for Union membership, so please feel free to bring friends!
Formal attire is encouraged, but dress to your comfort.
* Online sign up will not issue printable or mailed tickets. A roster of all individuals that purchased tickets online will be checked upon entry to the event.
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.
Learning to Match Race
Have you ever wanted to Match Race? This will be a lesson directed at taking sailors with a minimalist background in sailboat racing and introducing the concepts of Match Racing. For those that are unfamiliar with Match racing, it is a boat on boat short-course ultra competetive form of racing that even spent some time as an olympic discipline. If you want to know what it looks like in practice check out this Video from the World Match Racing Tour.
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.
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.
Intro to Racing Sailboats: Simple Steps for Becoming a Racer
Racing sailboats is one of the most rewarding and challenging sports in the world. Dave Elsmo, the Head Coach of our own WIsconsin Sailing Team, will be talking on behalf of the simplest steps for becoming a a faster and more competetive racer. This will be valuable for individuals that want to race in tech's, sloops, scows and even our large keelboats! Bring your friends, bring your competitors, bring somebody new to the sport!
These classes are stand-alone seminars presented by Hoofer instructors and other Hoofer friends. These are free, and a current membership is not required for winter education, so feel free to invite your friends.
Check TITU for location
DON'T FORGET TO BRING IN A FEW NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS TO BE DONATED TO THE SECOND HARVEST FOODBANK!
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.
Bermuda Revisited - Part II: How ETNZ won the 35th America's Cup
A sequel to last winter’s presentation on the History of the America’s Cup. This session will consist of an in-depth review of the most recent staging of the world’s oldest sporting competition which took place this past summer in Bermuda, featuring an overview of the teams, sailors, boats and technology that took center stage during this event. Select video highlights from key races will provide insight into the match racing rules and strategies that are a key component of this unique racing environment. Re-live all the drama and excitement, thrills and spills of the 35th America’s Cup, which culminated in Emirates Team New Zealand dominant victory over Oracle Team USA, as the America’s Cup changed hands for just the sixth time in its 166 year history.
These classes are stand-alone seminars presented by Hoofer instructors and other Hoofer friends. These are free, and a current membership is not required for winter education, so feel free to invite your friends.
Check TITU for location
DON'T FORGET TO BRING IN A FEW NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS TO BE DONATED TO THE SECOND HARVEST FOODBANK!
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.