Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Elsmo Update

The campus state of emergency has been extended at least until July. That means continued virtual classes (how sick is that?), cancelled exams, no graduation, Wis. Union services suspended, and all campus libraries and computer labs closed indefinitely.

Don't worry, though--this does not affect Hoofer Sailing! Hoofer staff have been able to circumvent the governor's and chancellor's orders by having Hoofers declared "critical infrastructure". Hard to believe? Not if you know Mills and Dave.

This allows us to proceed with pier-in, lesson planning, and so on as if there were no pandemic at all (see photo of new Hoofer crane/ bungee-jump above). It's important that the season start soon since we're already losing wages. Well, a few of us are, and more of you will be real soon. Don't worry, we have no intention of waiting until July to sail. Sailing is necessary, and thus "critical", for various things that we want to do A.S.A.P., such as:

1. Making money
2. Having fun
3. Meeting girls (or boys if you're a girl)*
4. Getting wasted while eating brats
5. Getting slammered while watching the sun set
6. Receiving the adulation of paying members
7. Collecting cash from paying members.
8. Getting sloshed while sailing.
9. Did we mention getting paid?

No way are we waiting until the summer is half over to start doing those things. Hoofer activities take place outdoors, so there's no chance of catching anything from someone even if they're sick. Except maybe in the sardine race, but the Techs are gone now so that's not even an issue anymore. Even if someone does catch coronavirus at Hoofers, no big deal because it's not dangerous to young people.

So let's get fired up for a great 2020 season!

Club leaders: check the private BOC and/or instructor lists for more details and updates.

*Or members of the same sex or any other sex, or inflatable mannequins if that's your thing. Just to cover all the bases. Hoofers doesn't discriminate. much.

20 comments:

  1. Private Tong Family Marina all to themselves.

    It's gone baby, gone. Hoofer's Sailing Club is no more. Just the Tong Family Marina and staff to make things look pretty on the UW Recruitment brochures. Mainly, the cash-strapped states will be selling-off common property to repay the Hedge Funds demanding austerity payments. Hoofer's is prime lakefront property with recent improvements. I wonder how much it will sell for?

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  2. Due to the COVID-19 Emergency, all blogs critical of the People's Liberation Navy, territorial waters and ports under control of the Party are halted by order of President Xi and organ of state, Elsmo.

    May the blog meisters learn much from their stay in the People's Re-Education Camps. May you find your place in society after many years scraping barnacles from the hulls of superior navy. And, readings from the Ground School Manual and the Little Red Book to further your rehabilitation.

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  3. We can still offer lessons if proper social distancing is observed. Let's not get all defeatist. The Club is ready to go when people are able to come down and learn how to sail.

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  4. Why not? We can still have dingy lessons, instructors in one boat, students in their own boat. That's how we do it half the time anyway. Now as far as the sloops and keelboats, maybe not.

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  5. Gung Ho, Dingy lessons would not change much. Dingies are fun and a great way to practice basics of sailing. It is in these lessons that students get their sea legs and get the sailing bug.

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  6. Tonight's Friday Social Menu at Tong Family Marina. Wuhan-Style Pangolin in Civet cat reduction with Bat saliva for dipping.

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  7. Stop with the PRC Funded Tong Family Marina conspiracy theories. This was a wonderful and most gracious gift from two UW Alums.

    "Peter Tong graduated from UW–Madison in 1965 with a master’s degree in electrical engineering. Peter was an avid sailor with the Hoofer Sailing Club. Janet also attended UW–Madison, earning a master’s degree in family and consumer education, then known as home economics education, from the School of Human Ecology and also graduated in 1965."

    Thank you Peter and Janet Tong!

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  8. It is a wonderful gift from Peter and Janet Tong. Thank you very much. One day we'll be back in full swing enjoying the upgraded facilities at Hoofers.

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  9. Will the Club be opening to let day sailors take out dinghies? Do we have any dinghies left like Techs? Those are great little boats to social distance and have fun on the water.

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  10. Maybe we can do something fun and learn a little along the way. How about Sailing Tips and other education related to sailing? Marlinspikes, Top 5 knots you need to know, how to actually heave-to with each boat in keels.

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  11. What is the Hoofer Sailing Club doing to continue educating Club Members during this time of social distancing? Are we having Educational Zoom sessions just like the rest of the University?

    What knowledge or concepts can be introduced online via group discussions? Shared experiences among the group on the topic?

    There's a heckuvva lot that the Club can be doing for its members. Instead of whining about it, let's do something! We do not need special permission from up high. Work this peer to peer and remember, WE ARE THE CLUB.

    Reach-out on the FB page for Hoofers and offer to teach others. This is a Club and we learn from each other.

    Wind Clock, Safety Position in dinghies and Hove-to on Keels or Sloops. Sailing by the lee, controlled vs. flying jibe, setting an anchor.....the list just goes on and on.

    Zoom can be used to introduce the topics above. When we are able to sail together again, these topics can be built upon and explored in depth during face to face instruction.

    Otherwise? The Club looks pretty on the shoreline but is otherwise STUCK IN IRONS. Who gets us out of Irons? Not the Club Management, but the Club Members working with each other.

    Let us be positive, teach others the love of sailing, and keep Hoofers going.

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  12. Get Out of Irons, that is a great idea! We can reach-out to the current Fleet Leaders and ask about doing this. Or, just bypass them and do it ourselves. Peer to Peer before we are sailing Pier to Pier :)

    Just need a free Zoom account and a few slides covering the visuals.

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  13. No new topic in a month! Are you Blog-Meisters OK?

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  14. Proud Blogmeisters who criticize Peoples Marina are learning to become productive and contributing members.

    Their time in Re-education camp in Xinjiang is rehabilitating them into productive members of society.

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  15. As I look at the beautiful image of the crane in this blog post, I am filled with sadness that ever though the crane is finally in, it seems like it will be neglected this season. Will we ever sail again? Is this the end of Hoofers as we know it? Did the virus win?

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  16. After the rains stop and the Earth boils away its surface water, a large crane will poke-up from the dry and dusty former lake shore. A few millenia from now, Ugg and Thugg will encounter and treat it like some new Stonehenge and ascribe meaning.

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  17. That crane is an accident looking to happen. After a few years of waves and ice working on that concrete jetty, watch out. Or try to lift anything heavier than a C-scow, and you better stand waaay back. All the while operated by amateurs, meaning we are guaranteed another disaster. Who's small brain is this the child of?

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  18. A heavy lifting device needs to be able to transfer the weight of a load down. If those supporting piles shift or cause the crane to shift to less than 90 degrees to the earth that could be a problem.

    All those pilings are really deep. I don't see a problem with any of this. It's a nice gift from Campus Alums.

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  19. Is this Club opening up again any time soon? Anyone heard anything through the grapevine?

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  20. Argh Mateys. The P Day is onTue May 26, 12:01:00 PM PDT

    Pirate's Day is on! Although this is not sanctioned by the Union,get ready! Get yer Pirate's Day outfits prepped and everything that goes with it.

    There are enough private boats sail and motorized to make this one exceptional!

    Check with other Club Members as the day approaches. This is not sanctioned by Union but more of a Flash Mob event. Check with those in the know about what boats are available for the Fun in the Sun!

    Arrgggghhh.

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