By Michalah Beck
Deep Creek Landing Marina isn’t just a marina in the heart of Newport News. It has grown into a location of community, involvement and belonging for Newport News and Hampton Roads citizens.
Jessica Godfrey, the Marina’s owner, had a vision for the future of her family’s business. Eight years ago, her father passed ownership to her. Once a location for kayak and canoe rentals, Godfrey says, “We really tried to make it something for the community, where they can come and enjoy the water.” Boating has always been a large component of Godfrey’s life, and she’s passionate about helping other students build the same connection to the water that helped shape her identity.
Seeing the need for a sailing program, Godfrey convinced Dreugh Phillips, Christopher Newport University’s sailing coach, to help her form a sailing camp. Godfrey was extremely pleased with its success and felt strongly that a children’s sailing camp was a missing part of the Newport News community.
Godfrey contacted Arielle Darrow, who ran yacht clubs and nonprofits along the East Coast. At the time Godfrey contacted her, Darrow was working for a nonprofit in New York. Together, the two put their heads together and in 2021, created the Deep Creek Landing Marina Youth Summer Sailing Camp with 60 students. Darrow brought new ideas to the marina, pulling from her background in yacht club and nonprofit management that began to shape the camp’s educational design.
The waterfront has come alive as students ages five to 13 take to the water, learning how to sail through hands-on instruction, teamwork and a spirit of adventure. Led by certified coaches and experienced sailors, the program offers a safe, empowering space for local youth to build confidence and life skills.
Approaching its fourth consecutive summer, the camp is divided into three age and skill categories. For many of these students, this may be their first time on the water, making a splash into this new and valuable skill. The River Guppies, designed to be an introductory class for students new to sailing, are tailored for ages five to seven. The River Otters are for entry-beginner sailors from ages eight to 13, and the River Ospreys are for intermediate student sailors from ages nine to 13 years old.
As general manager, Darrow has set a goal to teach her students sailing without them realizing they’re constantly learning. The program is filled with sailing games and exercises. A staff-favorite game for the students is a pirate-themed scavenger and treasure hunt, where the students follow a map with their kayaks to find the treasure floating along the surface.
Scholarships sponsored by Coastal Shores Inc. and Deep Creek Landing Marina are offered through an application on the Deep Creek Landing Marina website, allowing children to participate in the summer camp. These scholarships ensure that sailing is accessible to families of all backgrounds because the youth sailing camp believes every child in the community should have the chance to experience the magic of the water.
The Deep Creek Landing Marina Youth Summer Sailing Camp is thriving with its sailing program and building a new community of young sailors. Forever connected to the memories on the James and Warwick rivers flowing through Newport News, what began as an experiment to learn what the Newport News community was missing has developed into a cherished tradition, where local children are now growing into confident sailors, teammates and leaders.
TO THE POINT:
Deep Creek Landing Marina Youth Summer Sailing Camp
Address: 200 Old Marina Ln., Newport News, VA 23602
Contact: Arielle Darrow, general manager
Phone: 757-409-0170
Email: Adarrow@deepcreeklanding.com
