Update from the vice commodore of Hoofer sailing
By Michelle Czarnecki, vice commodore of hoofer sailing
Since 1939, the Hoofer Sailing Club has been making waves on Lake Mendota. The flock of large white sails has become an integral part to the Memorial Union Terrace scenery. This August, the club has been busy enjoying the summer weather and planning for the upcoming year.
With an average of 1,200 to 1,300 members a year, the Sailing Club is by far the largest club in Hoofers, largely due to its ideal location on the shores of Lake Mendota. This summer, the club has been capitalizing on its lakefront location by holding free sailing rides to benefit Second Harvest of Wisconsin every other Friday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Currently, the club has donated over 80 pounds of food and $70 to Second Harvest, which amounts to more than 210 meals. All the free sailing rides given are dependent on club volunteers, who have taken people out on every Hoofer boat, from the custom-built Badger Sloop to the New York 36, Decoy. Hoofer Sailing Club’s next free sailing day takes place August 12.
The Hoofer Sailing Club is also home to a highly successful youth program. Children from nine to 18 can choose from beginning sailing instruction courses to beginning windsurfing or kayaking and canoeing courses. As students return each year, they move up through the program on to more challenging and exciting boats. Many eventually become youth assistants, helping out with the youth camps. Some even become instructors for the club.
August will also be an exciting time for the club as we get ready to host the upcoming year’s elections. While the Sailing Club itself is a diverse mix of students, community members and faculty, the club leadership is ultimately dependent upon the students who are elected to oversee the general running of the organization. As a registered student organization, the Hoofer Sailing Club is governed by a student commodore and vice commodore, chosen by election in the first two weeks of August. The commodore and vice commodore then choose their Board of Captains—the governing body of the Sailing Club—half of which must be UW Madison students. The students selected have great resources within the Union, such as their Hoofer advisors, the Head of Instruction and the Union marketing department to help the club thrive.
Hoofer Sailing Club is always eager for new members. The club has a Friday night social every Friday starting at 6:00 p.m. Guests are welcome to ask anyone there about their experience with the club. They most likely have a sailing anecdote or Union story to share!
If you would like more information about the Hoofer Sailing Club, you can visit our website. Or feel free to stop down by Lake Mendota anytime when the weather is right!
