UW sailor to compete in Hawaii

Matt Schmidt, a member of the UW–Madison Hoofer Sailing Team, has qualified to compete in the 2005-06 ICSA/Vanguard Singlehanded North American Championships, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 18-20, at the University of Hawaii.

Schmidt qualified as one of the top two racers in the Midwest and will compete for the national title within a field of 18 men from across the United States.

The regatta will sail out of the Honolulu Community College Marine Education and Training Center in Honolulu. Races will be held in Keehi Lagoon on the south side of the island of Oahu. The event comprises two and a half days of racing totaling approximately 20 races. There are male and female divisions, each with 18 competitors who earned their spots through regional qualifying rounds.

“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to compete on the national level,” said Schmidt. “After not qualifying last year, I’ve been working hard this fall — both with the team and on my own — and it’s great to see that work finally pay off.”

Schmidt, a 20-year-old junior engineering student, is in his third year as a member of the Wisconsin sailing team, which competes in regattas around the nation and hosts several events each year. The team is a UW club sport and largely sponsored by the UW Hoofer Sailing Club, which provides the team with boats, pier access and additional funding. Schmidt worked this past summer as an instructor with the Hoofer Sailing Club,where he had the opportunity to pass along his sailing expertise to beginning club members and Madison-area youth who took part in the Hoofer youth program.

The UW Sailing Team continues to practice from about 2:30 p.m. until sunset each Tuesday-Thursday (weather permitting). Practices are held on Lake Mendota, launching out of the Hoofer boathouse adjacent to the Memorial Union.

For more information, contact Brian Borkovec, Hoofer Sailing Club head of instruction, at 265-3111 or headofinstruction@hoofersailing.org.