Norfolk, Virginia - Sitting at my computer, I can hear the race horns sounding across the nearby Elizabeth River as they count down the start of the next United States Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) 2017 Opti National Championship race. My window looks out on hundreds of sails jockeying for position.

That’s because the USODA nationals are being held at the Big Blue Sailing Academy at the Old Dominion University Sailing Center here in Norfolk, Virginia – just a three dock hop from my home.

Over 340 boats took to the Elizabeth River for the three championships being run here, July 24 through August 3, which include: USODA Team Race National Championships, USODA Girls National Championship and the 2017 USODA National Championship.

The National Championship fleet is so big, it’s split into three divisions: Green, Pink and Blue fleets.

The siren call of the race starts pulls me from my usual Waterway Guide duties and I end up walking over to the ODU docks.

The Big Blue Sailing Academy (BBSA) is run by ODU Head Coach Mitch Brindley out of the Old Dominion University (ODU) Sailing Center. The Center is home to 100+ Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) All Americans and 15 ICSA National Champions, four Olympians-including one Gold medalist and one Silver medalist. It has also produced nine U.S. Sailing Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year winners.  

ODU is no stranger to hosting high level events.  In addition to producing top level sailors, their resume includes hosting the 2005 Opti Team Race Nationals, 2001 and 2015 ICSA Singlehanded Nationals, and 2007 ICSA Women’s Nationals, as well as, numerous ISSA and ICSA Team Race Nationals.

Located on the Elizabeth River, at the mouth of the Lafayette River, the racing area offers a range of conditions and wind directions. Late summer conditions in Norfolk are typically in the mid-high 80's and sunny with the chance of an occasional afternoon storm.  Wind is predominantly from the South or Southwest and is above 10 knots roughly 90% of the time during this time of year, according to Sailflow app statistics.

The parking lot is chock-a-block with sailors, trailers and merchants selling the latest Opti gear.

At the nearby park overlooking the river, some enterprising siblings of competitors have set up hammocks for a better, more relaxing view.

One Green fleet dad, Robert Jensen of the Northeast River Yacht Club in Maryland, sits watching his son, Nathan, 12, via binoculars, as he navigates his first day of racing on July 31.

“One thing that’s different, maybe better, about sailboat racing [as opposed to other sports] is the distance the parents have from the racers,” Jensen says as he and other parents watch the action from the ODU Sailing Center’s new fitness park. “If you’re out there on the water shouting directions at them they get disqualified. So, it’s not like being at a soccer game, where the parents are right on top of the kids shouting. When they’re out on the water it’s like a forced separation.”

There are about 10 summer races from June to August, with a few additional races in the Fall.

Jensen’s experience has led to a polished mini command center set up with his laptop and binoculars. While Nathan won’t hear dad’s voice while on the water, he will get notes when he comes ashore.

Mr. Jensen explains that while he’s not a sailor himself, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t need to “put the Dad hat on” to give advice.

“I’ll get on him about attention to detail, about helping his team out, about making sure he’s up on time, but I don’t ride him about technique on the boat,” He explains.

He says his most important role as a sail parent is to “be the bellows to keep that ember of interest and dedication glowing.”

From the day Nathan, at age eight, brought home a flyer announcing a summer sailing camp, to the days when he wants to chuck it all, Dad has been there to stoke him up.

“I have to put the Dad hat on, but I only blew up on him and got angry when he wanted to quit,” he explains. “He had a bad race and he just wanted to quit. Nah. Not happening. He’ll meet the full wrath of Dad on that. But you get past that and keep sailing.”

Race results are posted online via the Big Blue Sailing Academy's website.