Hoofer Sailing Club

Hoofer Sailing Club was founded in 1939 and is part of the Hoofers outdoor adventure clubs at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. It originated as an all-volunteer club where members maintained boats and taught each other how to sail. It has grown from a handful of wooden boats to the second largest inland sailing club in the country and receives frequent coverage in local and regional news [1] [2].

The club owns its own piers at Memorial Union on Lake Mendota along with more than 120 different boats and sailboards. Fifteen different types of craft are sailed, including the Hoofer-designed Tech Dinghy. There is an adaptive sailing program for individuals with disabilities, and a youth program for those who are not old enough to be regular club members. All members are encouraged to volunteer at least 8 hours of work a year to the club. The club has very active socials, parties, and special events.

Famous Hoofer Sailing Club members include Peter Barrett, an Olympic sailing gold and silver winner, and the founders of Harken, a sailing-hardware manufacturer.