What is it with these elite athletes and real estate?

Meet Bob Schofield, 42, an Akridge VP who also happens to be one of the planet’s top sailors. Last month the US Olympic sailing team announced him as one of its members, and he’ll compete in October for a spot in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In a 2000 Cinderella story, he placed 4th in the "Star Worlds," a legendary championship pitting 100 top sailors from all nations in the 22’ Star class. It was only a month after he started at Akridge, following 12 years in construction, mainly at Clark.

By day, he’s working Akridge's Burnham Place development north ofUnion Station (currently up to his ears not in water, but in getting entitlements), plus their 300,000 SF development at 700 6th Street, and purchase from Pepco of 9 acres at Buzzard’s Point near the newballpark in SW that looks like it may be made into a federal enclave.

Bob told us that many of the skills he uses out on the water are very similar to those he uses at work. "In both cases you have to be very detail oriented. The details that may seem trivial at first are usually the ones that get you into trouble later on."

And Bob gets to combine his day job and hobby: above right, he leads the Akridge sailing team (including mates John Otto, Adam Gooch, andSarah Knutson) in the Big Team Regatta that raises money for underprivileged kids.

By way, we know there are other great sailors around here: CBRE's Art Santry raced with Ted Turner America's Cup team!