Hoofers Sailing wins big in summer competitions
By Anna Johnson, members relations intern
It has been a summer filled with trophies and triumph for Hoofers Sailing, as teams traveled across the country to win awards in the 2012 Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) National Championships and place first in their division at the renowned 104th Race to Mackinac freshwater race.
Members of the Hoofers Sailing team get ready to race in the ICSA National Championships.
In May, the University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduate sailing team traveled to Texas to compete in the 2012 ICSA National Championships after months of preparation and intense competition across the country. The women’s team placed 36th in the nation, Our Team Race Team placed 9th, and for the first time since the ICSA changed the competition to a semifinal system, the co-ed team reached an impressive 10th place finish.
The co-ed team’s victory was the first time any Midwest team placed in the top ten since the competition system changed. Two Hoofers sailors were honored with All-American awards in the co-ed and crew divisions. Congratulations to Joe Kutschenrueter and Molly Forbes for being the first Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association sailors to receive All-American awards since 1979!
The Hoofers Sailing team wasn’t the only Hoofers group to win big this summer. In July, Hoofers sailors aboard the Intuition won their division in the 104th annual Race to Mackinac. More than 350 boats raced across 333 miles of freshwater along Lake Michigan. The race began from Chicago on July 20 and continued non-stop until the finish line in Michigan’s Mackinac Island.
Boating enthusiasts and families from all walks of life gathered together to race in the lengthy competition. Sailor and co-owner of the Intuition, Mark Gillespie, said the race can take anywhere between 73 to 88 hours to complete. This year, the Hoofers sailors of the Intuition won the “cruising” division of the race with a 65 hour 21 minute finish.
After competing in the race for years, Mark was ecstatic to win. “[You’re] using all your senses to sail,” Mark said. “You feel totally connected to the boat.”
After the win, the team took time to enjoy Mackinac Island and watched other competitors finish the race. The team will continue competing in the Race to Mackinac, but may take a break from racing next year. From organizing provisions to transporting the boat to and from the race, preparation for the race was elaborate and time-consuming. Mark said they may take a break from racing next year to enjoy the competition and island as spectators.
Hoofers sailboats sit peacefully along the shore of Lake Mendota. Photo by University Communications.
Mark learned to sail by joining Hoofers seven years ago. One summer day, he was sitting on the Terrace and saw sailors on Lake Mendota. After inquiring about the sailing team, he joined and pursued his passion for sailing. He has been with the club for seven years, five of which he’s been an instructor.
The co-owners of the Intutition are instructors who all learned to sail from older members. “Six relatively new members just won Mackinac,” Mark said proudly. “You could learn to sail around the world here with Hoofers.”
To learn more about Hoofers Sailing, visit the Hoofers website.
