J. William "Bill" Cofer has little trouble touting the natural economic advantages and beauty of the Port of Hampton Roads to maritime industry officials around the world.

Since a young age, this Newport News native has all but lived on the water - first, as a fervent explorer, then a competitive sailor and, for the last 19 years, as a professional harbor pilot, helping visiting captains of commercial vessels navigate local waters.

He even met his wife sailing, and the couple have spent a large part of their married life plying the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and working to restore its vitality as volunteers with the Elizabeth River Project.

Elected president of the Virginia Pilot Association last May, Cofer gets to spend two years as a port goodwill ambassador, promoting his lifelong passion to others and drumming up more business for the Port of Hampton Roads.

The Virginia Pilot Association, which has a complement of approximately 36 pilots and five launches, offers piloting services to the world's fleet of ships entering Virgnia's ports, everything from tugboats to commercial ships to aircraft carriers. It owns and operates a six-story control tower next to the Cape Henry Lighthouse at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, which communicates with and tracks the progress of all commercial vessels entering and exiting the bay.

Serving as president of the association is a job made to order for Cofer, a 1979 business administration graduate.

"Being on ships and as a sailor, I've had an opportunity to see things most people don't get a chance to see," he said. "So it's a lot of fun telling people about our terrific natural, deep-water port."

Although Cofer had no other early professional aspirations than to become a harbor pilot, when it came time to choose a major, he opted for business with a marketing specialization. "That marketing degree is really coming in handy now," he said.

Cofer enrolled at the university primarily because of its then budding sailing program. From the time he was a young boy, he'd been involved in the local sailing community and knew about Old Dominion's growing reputation in the sport.

As a student, he became instrumental as the program evolved from a fledgling club sport to a fully accredited national varsity powerhouse. In his senior year, the team was ranked among the country's top 20 programs.

He continued his involvement after graduation, serving on the Intercollegiate Foundation board. Then, in 1985, while working full time as a harbor pilot, Cofer was asked to coach for a year while the school awaited a new skipper to come on board.

"It was a wonderful . . . but hectic time," he recalls. "That was the year we ended up having a nucleus of incredibly talented freshmen who did extremely well . . . and went on to become ranked in the top two teams in the nation. I was also able to bring in some terrific talent for the new coach. In fact, Terry Hutchinson went on to become national Sailor of the Year."

se years at Old Dominion were some of his most memorable, he said, adding, "I still feel very much a part of that program."

As for his latest challenge, Cofer views it as a chance to remind the world maritime community of another local powerhouse, the Port of Hampton Roads.

- J. T. Coates