Fishing Bay Yacht Club, home of a highly competitive Junior Sailing Program and host of an acclaimed Opti ACCs in 2004, has gotten off to an early start in planning the 2010 USODA Opti Nationals for July 16-24 in Deltaville, Virginia, which is located on the Middle Chesapeake Bay, 75 miles east of Richmond, Virginia.

The schedule calls for Team Nationals July 17-19, with check-in the 16th, Girls Nationals July 20, with check-in the 19th, and Nationals July 21-24, with check-in the 20th. Advanced check-in for earlier arrivals will be permitted for the latter events. There will be a Green Fleet on a separate course July 21-24 with similar check-in times.

FBYC has created a state of the art website for the regatta at http://optinationals2010.org. That “Event Website” can be accessed directly at that address or linked from www.usoda.org or from FBYC’s standard website www.fbyc.net. As usual, registration and fee payment will be provided on the USODA website, but all other information and transactions for apparel, accessories, and incidental purchases of goods and services will be provided on the Event Website. Already included are detailed regatta information, directions, charter and accommodation information, interactive maps, charts and photos of the sailing area, weather and tides, host and sponsorship criteria, articles on the Fleet PRO and Green Fleet Instructor, as well as various Sponsors and Local Hosts. The Event Site is compatible with Facebook and Twitter, which are already crackling with Fans and Tweets. Become a Fan on Facebook at http://facebook.com/optinationals2010 and connect with other sailors and parents and follow our updates via Twitter at http://twitter.com/optinationals.

FBYC, as the Host Club, has allied itself with several prominent Local Hosts who are providing facilities, in-kind contributions and funding. The main headquarters will be not be at FBYC, but across Jackson Creek in the fields of the Deltaville Maritime Museum, and Opti launching will be at the adjacent marina, Deltaville Boatyard. Two community associations, Harbor House and Jackson Creek Harbor will provide additional facilities for small power boat launching and transit between the headquarters and launching sites. The entire event will be conducted under the auspices of the Deltaville Community Association. Another local marina and yachting center, Norton Yachts, has provided munificent local host funding. Christchurch School, a local preparatory school, with an active high school sailing program has opened its dormitories for rental and is providing other generous in-kind services. Numerous other sponsors are providing in-kind and financial support for the regatta and are recognized on the Event Website.

The sailing area will be in the mouth of the Piankatank River in the area surrounded by Gwynn’s Island on the south, Stingray Point on the north, and Stove Point on the west, and opening directly to the Middle Chesapeake on the east. In July, this area benefits from a southeastern sea breeze, but is sheltered from northeast winds. The area is a short distance from the mouth of Jackson Creek from which the fleets will depart each day.

Deltaville, a primary sailing and boating center for central Virginia, has evolved from a small waterman village and boatbuilding capitol to include many summer residents and thousands of boats. Although it has very limited hotel accommodations, other nearby cities and towns, connected by excellent, fast moving, state highways, have a sufficient number of resorts, hotels, motels and camping areas to serve the expected regatta guests. A detailed Accommodations Page is provided on the Event Website listing a wide array of available lodging, approximate rates, and distances from Deltaville. For the best and closest accommodations, FBYC urges you to make your lodging plans now!