Sign-up Process:

• Read details below
• Press "sign-up"
• Rank your trip preference* and complete other information
• Receive a sign-up confirmation email

*We do our very best to get each participant into their preferred trip, however weather and other circumstances can change trip availability and practicality.

Your Trip and SOAR:

Trips can be coupled with SOAR.  Sign up before April 17th and email us. We can help you link your preferred SOAR and Basecamp combination.  This is an opportunity for you to get your preferred SOAR date, but only if you are signed up for the Basecamp date that begins the day after your SOAR date ends.  (Note: SOAR normally ends at 12pm, so please do not schedule SOAR to end on the first day of your Basecamp Trip!)

After April 17th, you can link these on your own.  Just make sure your SOAR date ends the day before your Basecamp trip begins. It does not work to have them overlap. Some participants will choose to do SOAR and Basecamp independently—either way works.

Cancellation Policy: 

Your deposit is non-refundable.  Your trip balance is due 30 days prior to your trip. Any participant registering after 30 days before the trip must pay in full, unless differently arranged.  In the instance your trip is cancelled due to low enrollment, weather or any other circumstance, we will make every effort to help you change your trip.  If no other date is available, we will complete a full refund.  If you need to cancel your trip, you will not receive a deposit refund and no refunds will be given 30 days prior to your trip. 

Typical Itinerary:

Trips meet at 8:00am the first day and end at 4:30pm the last day. See a typical trip itinerary here. 

What's Next?

Get excited and tell your friends that will also be new Badgers!

After signing up you will receive a confirmation email with many details to help you prepare. 

Expect another email with your trip placement and specific trip information including a packing list, trip leader information, your trip placement, and any additional waivers! This will come approximately one and a half to two months prior. 

Meet our Basecamp leaders, learn more and see what past participants have said about their Basecamp experience.

Follow us on Social Media

Stay up to date!  Facebook, Instagram, Website

Sign-up Process:

• Read details below
• Press "sign-up"
• Complete information
• Receive a sign-up confirmation email

*We do our very best to get each participant into their preferred trip, however weather and other circumstances can change trip availability and practicality.

Your Trip and SOAR:

Trips can be coupled with SOAR.  Sign up before April 17th and email us. We can help you link your preferred SOAR and Basecamp combination.  This is an opportunity for you to get your preferred SOAR date, but only if you are signed up for the Basecamp date that begins the day after your SOAR date ends.  (Note: SOAR normally ends at 12pm, so please do not schedule SOAR to end on the first day of your Basecamp Trip!)

After April 17th, you can link these on your own.  Just make sure your SOAR date ends the day before Basecamp begins. It does not work to have them overlap. Some participants will choose to do SOAR and Basecamp independently—either way works.

Cancellation Policy: 

Your deposit is non-refundable.  Your balance is due 30 days prior to your trip. Any participant registering after 30 days before the trip must pay in full, unless differently arranged.  If your experience is cancelled due to low enrollment, weather or any other circumstance, we will make every effort to help you change your date.  If no other date is available, we will complete a full refund.  If you need to cancel, you will not receive a deposit refund and no refunds will be given 30 days prior. 

Typical Itinerary:

This meets at 10am the first day and end at 4:30pm the last day. See a typical trip itinerary here. 

What's Next?

After signing up you will receive a confirmation email with many details to help you prepare.  This will include a medical form to complete.

From there, we will be in contact with further details as the summer progresses. 

Meet our Basecamp leaders, learn more and see what past participants have said about their Basecamp experience. Get excited!

Follow us on Social Media

Stay up to date!  Facebook, Instagram, Website

Instructor: Megan

Looking to take your yoga practice off the mat? On summer mornings, glassy smooth water and a gorgeous sunrise makes Lake Mendota the perfect place for stand-up paddleboard yoga! Outdoor UW works hard to create a playful and inclusive class environment where participants can freely explore their practice under guidance from an instructor. Our SUP Yoga classes are for every yogi, whether you are brand new to your practice or have been practicing for years! Come join us on the water for your morning yoga fix!

SUP yoga classes are $15/class or require a RecSports Group Fitness membership. Cancellations can be made up until 12 hours before class, and will result in credit with Outdoor UW. If you wish to cancel your enrollment, please email outdooruw@union.wisc.edu. Registration for each class is capped at 10 participants, so please register early! Late-cancels and no-shows forfeit registration payment; RecSports members will incur a $5 late-cancel fee.

Participants must be 18 years or older to attend.

Things you will need to know:

• No prior experience with yoga or paddleboarding needed! Beginners welcome.
• Pre-registration required - sign up early!
• Outdoor UW Office opens at 8:00 AM - instructors and staff will arrive early so you may utilize locker rooms and water fountains.
• Class will meet right outside the Outdoor UW Office, on the lakefront just west of the Terrace.
• Wear comfortable clothing suitable for water. Athletic shorts/leggings and an athletic top work really well. 
• Bathrooms, showers, and lockers are available (lockers are $1)
• Weather cancellations will be made via email and text at least 1 hour before the start of class. Please check for any updates before arriving!

J24 Race Lesson - Sun

Pre-requisite: Racing Crew or Heavy Keelboat Skipper rating

Location: Meet under the Yellow Canopy

This lesson will participate in the official Mendota Yacht Club (MYC) races. Races with MYC can be fast-paced. No race experience is necessary, we rotate positions as possible. Over the course of a season you should cover the entire checklist for a J-spinnaker requirement. Season performance will be recorded by MYC.

Siege, Sassafras and Rhubarb are Tartan 10s, 33ft fractional rig sloops designed for racing. They are the largest boats in the hoofer fleet and have raced on the Great Lakes! Lessons will focus primarily on performance racing, seamanship, and dynamics of a racing crew. Topics covered vary depending on conditions, but will generally include boat handling, flying a spinnaker, operating under motor, selecting sails and rigging, racing techniques, tactics, racing culture and rules, communication skills, and judgment.

Lessons will proceed in all weather conditions except thunderstorms, the MYC race may be canceled for very light winds.  Please dress appropriately and expect cooler temperatures on the lake. Dressing appropriately includes close-toed shoes, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Please bring you rating progress form for check off after the lesson. You can find the progress forms and other instructional material at hoofersailing.org/manuals

Pre-requisite: Racing Crew or Heavy Keelboat Skipper rating

Location: Meet under the Yellow Canopy

This lesson will participate in the official Mendota Yacht Club (MYC) races. Races with MYC can be fast-paced. No race experience is necessary, we rotate positions as possible. Over the course of a season you should cover the entire checklist for a J-spinnaker requirement. Season performance will be recorded by MYC.

Siege, Sassafras and Rhubarb are Tartan 10s, 33ft fractional rig sloops designed for racing. They are the largest boats in the hoofer fleet and have raced on the Great Lakes! Lessons will focus primarily on performance racing, seamanship, and dynamics of a racing crew. Topics covered vary depending on conditions, but will generally include boat handling, flying a spinnaker, operating under motor, selecting sails and rigging, racing techniques, tactics, racing culture and rules, communication skills, and judgment.

Lessons will proceed in all weather conditions except thunderstorms, the MYC race may be canceled for very light winds.  Please dress appropriately and expect cooler temperatures on the lake. Dressing appropriately includes close-toed shoes, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Please bring you rating progress form for check off after the lesson. You can find the progress forms and other instructional material at hoofersailing.org/manuals

Pre-requisite: Intro to Keelboat or Badger Sloop rating

Location: Meet under the Yellow Canopy

This lesson will participate in the official Mendota Yacht Club (MYC) races. Races with MYC can be fast-paced. No race experience is necessary, we rotate positions as possible. Over the course of a season you should cover the entire checklist for a J-spinnaker requirement. Season performance will be recorded by MYC.

Siege, Sassafras and Rhubarb are Tartan 10s, 33ft fractional rig sloops designed for racing. They are the largest boats in the hoofer fleet and have raced on the Great Lakes! Lessons will focus primarily on performance racing, seamanship, and dynamics of a racing crew. Topics covered vary depending on conditions, but will generally include boat handling, flying a spinnaker, operating under motor, selecting sails and rigging, racing techniques, tactics, racing culture and rules, communication skills, and judgment.

Lessons will proceed in all weather conditions except thunderstorms, the MYC race may be canceled for very light winds.  Please dress appropriately and expect cooler temperatures on the lake. Dressing appropriately includes close-toed shoes, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Please bring you rating progress form for check off after the lesson. You can find the progress forms and other instructional material at hoofersailing.org/manuals

Pre-requisite: Intro to Keelboat or Badger Sloop rating

Location: Meet under the Yellow Canopy

This lesson will participate in the official Mendota Yacht Club (MYC) races. Races with MYC can be fast-paced. No race experience is necessary, we rotate positions as possible. Over the course of a season you should cover the entire checklist for a J-spinnaker requirement. Season performance will be recorded by MYC.

Siege, Sassafras and Rhubarb are Tartan 10s, 33ft fractional rig sloops designed for racing. They are the largest boats in the hoofer fleet and have raced on the Great Lakes! Lessons will focus primarily on performance racing, seamanship, and dynamics of a racing crew. Topics covered vary depending on conditions, but will generally include boat handling, flying a spinnaker, operating under motor, selecting sails and rigging, racing techniques, tactics, racing culture and rules, communication skills, and judgment.

Lessons will proceed in all weather conditions except thunderstorms, the MYC race may be canceled for very light winds.  Please dress appropriately and expect cooler temperatures on the lake. Dressing appropriately includes close-toed shoes, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Please bring you rating progress form for check off after the lesson. You can find the progress forms and other instructional material at hoofersailing.org/manuals

Instructor: Megan

Looking to take your yoga practice off the mat? On summer mornings, glassy smooth water and a gorgeous sunrise makes Lake Mendota the perfect place for stand-up paddleboard yoga! Outdoor UW works hard to create a playful and inclusive class environment where participants can freely explore their practice under guidance from an instructor. Our SUP Yoga classes are for every yogi, whether you are brand new to your practice or have been practicing for years! Come join us on the water for your morning yoga fix!

SUP yoga classes are $15/class or require a RecSports Group Fitness membership. Cancellations can be made up until 12 hours before class, and will result in credit with Outdoor UW. If you wish to cancel your enrollment, please email outdooruw@union.wisc.edu. Registration for each class is capped at 10 participants, so please register early! Late-cancels and no-shows forfeit registration payment; RecSports members will incur a $5 late-cancel fee.

Participants must be 18 years or older to attend.

Things you will need to know:

• No prior experience with yoga or paddleboarding needed! Beginners welcome.
• Pre-registration required - sign up early!
• Outdoor UW Office opens at 8:00 AM - instructors and staff will arrive early so you may utilize locker rooms and water fountains.
• Class will meet right outside the Outdoor UW Office, on the lakefront just west of the Terrace.
• Wear comfortable clothing suitable for water. Athletic shorts/leggings and an athletic top work really well. 
• Bathrooms, showers, and lockers are available (lockers are $1)
• Weather cancellations will be made via email and text at least 1 hour before the start of class. Please check for any updates before arriving!

This lesson is for instructors needing training on motorboats, members who use motorboats to shuttle to and from the mooring field, and shop. 

Prerequisite: Compliance with State of Wisconsin laws governing Boater Safety Certification (anyone born on or after Jan 1st, 1989 must take the DNR course found at their website. LINK HERE) Note: Any individual born after 1988 is required to carry their boater safety certificate with them anytime they are operating a motorized vehicle. Request:  Please only sign up for this class if you are actively working toward keelboat certification. This lesson will meet at the wooden deck next to the Lakelab. 

Please note, this lesson is intended for beginner sailors and will be held regardless of weather. This lesson will cover procedures for rigging, launching and sailing the RS Zest as well as sailing basics. This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the Lakelab.

Click here to view some of the skills you should be familiar with from your Tech lessons as they will be further applied in the Zests.

Preference will be given to those who have a tech rating, a sloop rating, or have taken one of the following:

- Introduction to Keelboats
- Tech A
- Sloop A
- Windsurfing A

The following series of videos (about 10 min. each) will be a good preview of the information about sailing and sailing terms.
- Sailing Lessons - The Basics (part 1)
- Sailing Lessons - The Basics (part 2)
- Sailing Lessons - The Basics (part 3)
- Sailing Lessons - The Basics (part 4)

Please watch this video and be ready to discuss the physics of sailing.

For more on how sailing and sails work, here are some videos:
- How Do Sailboats Sail Faster Than the Wind 
- Exploratorium: Science at the America’s Cup
- Vector Analysis of How Sailboats Sail Into the Wind 
- How Boats Sail Into Wind (faster than the wind itself)

Prerequisite: Windsurfing A

Earned from this class: Windsurfing Practice or Windsurfing Light rating.

Class Overview: This is where we all began. A general introduction to windsurfing consisting of two, three hour classes. Sailing experience is not necessary, but will help. Topics covered include safety, stewardship of equipment, wind theory, brief terminology, simulator work, rigging, and on-the-water skill development.

In this class, students learn all the basics of understanding the wind, rigging sails and taking care of equipment, uphauling the sail, maneuvering the windsurfer in neutral position, sailing in a straight line, steering the board, getting upwind, and tacking. Students will be on the water both days provided the weather is good, using beginning windsurfing boards.

Preparing for Your Lesson:

· Be prepared to get wet! Bring suitable clothing (shorts and shirt to get wet, a windbreaker/sweatshirt on windier or cooler days).

· Have a lifejacket and be checked out through Outdoor UW before class start.

· Meet at the Lakelab next to the Yellow Canopy at the Hoofer Lakefront.

· The Windsurfing B class is usually held in all weather conditions, except solid blue flag conditions. · Before the lesson, please review the first six windsurfing instruction videos (which are about 15 minutes total), and look at the Windsurfing Manual (especially page 14-Uphauling Your Sail). You can view a video tutorial on rigging and uphauling by clicking on the link. For more information on Windsurfing, please see the Windsurfing Home Page.

Welcome to your windsurfing lesson.

This lesson will meet by the wooden deck next to the Lake Lab.

Prerequisite: Tech Plus or Tech Heavy Rating.   Review the Laser Rigging Guide before this lesson.  This lesson will meet at the wooden deck next to the Lakelab. 

Please note, this lesson is intended for beginner sailors and will be held regardless of weather. This lesson will cover procedures for rigging, launching and sailing the RS Zest as well as sailing basics. This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the Lakelab.

The first day of a RS Zest class is always held regardless of adverse weather. Come prepared to sail!

Preference will be given to those who have a tech rating, a sloop rating, or have taken one of the following:

- Introduction to Keelboats
- Tech A
- Sloop A
- Windsurfing A

The following series of videos (about 10 min. each) will be a good preview of the information about sailing and sailing terms.
- Sailing Lessons - The Basics (part 1)
- Sailing Lessons - The Basics (part 2)
- Sailing Lessons - The Basics (part 3)
- Sailing Lessons - The Basics (part 4)

Please watch this video and be ready to discuss the physics of sailing.

For more on how sailing and sails work, here are some videos:
- How Do Sailboats Sail Faster Than the Wind 
- Exploratorium: Science at the America’s Cup
- Vector Analysis of How Sailboats Sail Into the Wind 
- How Boats Sail Into Wind (faster than the wind itself)

Pre-requisite: Intro to Keelboat or Badger Sloop rating

Location: Meet under the Yellow Canopy

Suggested reading is U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, available in the Outdoor Programs Office.

Knotty Rascal is a Precision 27 and is part of the Cruising Keelboat fleet. Lessons on Knotty Rascal will focus on cruising and general sailing skills including care and use of the inboard diesel engine, using wheel steering, sailing with a roller furler jib, and ensuring the crew has a safe and enjoyable sail.

Lessons proceed in all weather conditions except thunderstorms, your instructor may have on-land discussions about sailing theory or advanced topics if the weather doesn’t permit sailing. Dress appropriately; expect cooler temperatures on the lake.

Please bring you rating progress form for check off after the lesson. If you have areas you would like to focus on, please let your instructor know. You can find the progress forms and other instructional material at hoofersailing.org/manuals

Prerequisite: Windsurfing A

Earned from this class: Windsurfing Practice or Windsurfing Light rating.

Class Overview: This is where we all began. A general introduction to windsurfing consisting of two, three hour classes. Sailing experience is not necessary, but will help. Topics covered include safety, stewardship of equipment, wind theory, brief terminology, simulator work, rigging, and on-the-water skill development.

In this class, students learn all the basics of understanding the wind, rigging sails and taking care of equipment, uphauling the sail, maneuvering the windsurfer in neutral position, sailing in a straight line, steering the board, getting upwind, and tacking. Students will be on the water both days provided the weather is good, using beginning windsurfing boards.

Preparing for Your Lesson:

· Be prepared to get wet! Bring suitable clothing (shorts and shirt to get wet, a windbreaker/sweatshirt on windier or cooler days).

· Have a lifejacket and be checked out through Outdoor UW before class start.

· Meet at the Lakelab next to the Yellow Canopy at the Hoofer Lakefront.

· The Windsurfing B class is usually held in all weather conditions, except solid blue flag conditions. · Before the lesson, please review the first six windsurfing instruction videos (which are about 15 minutes total), and look at the Windsurfing Manual (especially page 14-Uphauling Your Sail). You can view a video tutorial on rigging and uphauling by clicking on the link. For more information on Windsurfing, please see the Windsurfing Home Page.

Welcome to your windsurfing lesson.

Check Today in the Union on the day of the lesson. Note that this may appear earlier on the TITU listing but will start at the time shown here.

Prereq:  Available for any Hoofer Club Member including members of other Hoofer clubs. If you are a member of any of the Hoofer clubs, there is no charge for this class. If you are not a member of the Sailing Club but are a member of another Hoofer Club, please contact Outdoor UW or email the instructor to secure a place in the lesson.

This is part one of a three-part Marlinspike series will introduce background information about lines and knots and teach you how to tie many commonly used knots. Parts two and three are primarily about splicing different kinds of line.

To make the class run smoothly, students should go to www.animatedknots.com and review the following before class: 
-    figure-8 knot (stopper), stevadore stopper knot * and double overhand knot (stopper) *
-    square knot (reef knot),
-    clove hitch,
-    round turn and two half-hitches,
-    sheet bend, Carrick bend *,
-    taut-line hitch/midshipman's hitch,
-    bowline, and
-    cleat hitch (clove hitch on a cleat)
-    highwayman's hitch *

The purpose of the video review is so that you are exposed to what these knots look like. We will be tying each of them during the lesson. (You may have a hard time getting the rating if you have not done the review.) Your looking at these videos will allow us to get through more material in the lesson.

Each student will be provided a length of line to practice with and take home.

Sailing Club members will receive a rating.  

* Knots marked with an asterisk above are recommended but not required for one or more Sailing Club ratings; those not so marked are required knots.

Event Information: This three hour lesson will cover rigging, boat handling, landing, capsizing and crew overboard procedures. Along with this, emphasis is placed on learning the finer details associated with sailing dinghies as the 420’s are a responsive, two person, high performance boat. Once all skills have been mastered, completion of this lesson will result in a 420 Light rating.

Location: This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, or if there is inclement weather, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.

Prerequisites:  Tech light rating and have taken Advanced Dinghy Classroom. Please review the 420 Manual prior to this lesson.