The Bishop’s School sophomore Jessie O’Dell is starting to make some waves in the world of sailing. A member of the Bishop’s sailing team, O’Dell is sailing locally to prepare for the SCIRA Women’s World Championship in Florida in November. “I’m totally psyched about that and it’s going to be so much fun,” O’Dell said. “I’m really, really excited.” On the water, O’Dell partners with Aine McLean Fretwell, a La Jolla resident who doubles as her coach at Bishop’s. The duo finished third in the USA Snipe Class Women’s National Championship held last month in Jacksonville, Fla., behind two boats that featured former Olympians. “It was just an unforgettable experience and it’s really cool to be around these incredibly good people and good role models,” O’Dell said. Although O’Dell has raced in her family’s large sailboat for six years, she has only been racing smaller 15-foot boats, known as snipes, for about a year and a half. O’Dell said sailing in snipes competitions, where all boats are the same, is all about tactics. “It’s like playing chess on the water. You can make one mistake and the whole fleet will eat you up,” O’Dell said. “You have to combine being fast and being smart. It definitely has the physical side to it, but it’s very strategic, too.” Despite their age difference, O’Dell and Fretwell have fostered a unique relationship that is equal parts player-coach, teammates and friends. It tends to be more businesslike on race days. “We’re really close. When we’re not racing we’re just always talking. She’s one of my best friends,” O’Dell said. As a member of Bishop’s year-round sailing team, O’Dell said the Knights’ boaters are like family. She said team sailing has a different feel from two-person competition. “When you travel to a regatta you take your whole team with you and you only have two boats, so you rotate people in and out all the time,” O’Dell said. “It’s cool because you can watch for a little while.” Despite a strong showing at last month’s national championships, O’Dell said she sees some areas of improvement before her and Fretwell set sail against the world’s best. During the summer, she plans to sail as much as she can, splitting time between local waters and her hometown of Mammoth Lakes. During the summer, O’Dell will routinely make the six- to seven-hour drive with one of her parents. During the school year, she actually lives with her family on a boat, “Catalina 36,” docked in Harbor Island. “My life is all about water and sailing,” O’Dell said. And so far it has been smooth sailing for the local teen.