A new lease for the operation of Longshore’s sailing school seemed to be cruising along.
Now, however, it may have hit choppy waters.
Residents are questioning the process by which the next 10-year lease may be awarded. The present one expired October 15. The Board of Selectwomen are scheduled to vote on Parks & Recreation Department director Jen Fava’s recommendation at their next meeting, on Wednesday (December 13, 9 a.m., Town Hall auditorium).
Bill King, Heidi McGee and John Kantor — board members of Greenwich Community Sailing, which submitted a bid to the town for the sailing school/ boat rental contract — contacted “06880” with concerns about the process. McGee and Kantor grew up in Westport, and still live here.
Separately, so did Jeff Manchester — another native Westporter, involved in a competing bid.
Longshore Sailing School (Photo copyright/Stefen Turner)
According to Manchester, RFP responses were due October 18, with feedback to come a week later.
After several delays, on November 30 3 potential suitors — the current operator, former operators currently running the Greenwich Sailing School, and a Boat Locker team — all independently met with Parks & Rec director Fava, deputy director Rick Giunta, and a sailing consultant doing business with the current operator.
On December 4, the 2 bidders received a brief message from Fava. She thanked them for their interested and said, “Upon further review, we have chosen to move forward with Longshore Sailing School” — the current operator.
Sources say that the 3rd member of the panel interviewing the RFP candidates was Stu Gilfillen, director of education for US Sailing. Sources say his department employs a leader of the current Longshore Sailing School to teach instructor training courses.
Previously, Gilfillen “liked” Longshore Sailing School’s Facebook page. “Not sure how this was not a conflict of interest,” the Greenwich group says.
After news broke of the Parks & Rec decision, reaction on social media was quick and intense. Among the comments:
- What the hell happened here?
- Why would the town renew its lease?
- I am stunned and disappointed to hear this.
- And may the worst team win. Makes you wonder what influenced the outcome.
- This is sad in so many ways.
- Bull****!
- What a disaster. Were there other applicants?
- Has anyone complained to Parks and Rec? The place is unsightly for residents who use the park.
- I don’t understand how anyone over the age of 12 thinks this is an acceptable way to leave things.
- WTF?!
- Did anyone else make a bid?
- So sorry to hear this.
- It is dangerous for young children who play on the nearby playground.
- Yikes! Hurts my eyes.
- This desecrates all those shipshape awards given to students over the years.
- It’s a law suit waiting to happen.
- Seems a shame to sacrifice a 50-year-old institution that’s brought joy and taught work ethic to generations of CT kids. No way they can make a case to the town they are the best candidate in light of track record ( insurance ??) and literal photographic record. Frankly they are a liability to Westport and the surrounding towns’ children.
- Supremely disappointed in this outcome.
The 2 unsuccessful bidders have independently asked for a review of the Parks & Recreation Department selection process, “particularly given the dawning realization that there was a serious conflict of interest involved.”
They hope the Board of Selectwomen will carefully review the matter, before voting to approve the contract.
“06880” asked Parks & Recreation director Fava for a comment about the process.
She said, “The RFP referenced training and certification in accordance with standards of the United States Sailing Association. Stu Gillfillen is the director of education for US Sailing, so we reached out to him to participate in our process as his expertise pertains directly to the core of this operation.
“We do not believe there was any conflict of interest as Stu knows all of the respondents personally and all have had various affiliations with US Sailing. Additionally, the decision was not up to Stu alone and questions from the panel were fair and consistent across the board.”
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King, McGee and Kantor described the background of the Longshore sailing program.
It began in 1960, the year Westport purchased the private Longshore Country Club.
The Westport Recreation Commission (now called the Parks & Recreation Department) ran the program until 1975. That year, “Longshore Sailing School” took it private.
At first a sole proprietorship, Kantor — its president — reorganized it in 1978, as a for-profit corporation.
It ran successfully for decades, say Kantor, McGee and King. It was a pioneer and national model for community sailing programs.
An additional location in Old Greenwich was established in 1998. Called Greenwich Community Sailing, it was sponsored by Old Greenwich Yacht Club.
In 2001 Kantor, still president of Longshore Sailing School, Inc., donated the existing building to the town of Westport. A long-term lease was granted by the Town in order to amortize its cost.
That lease expired October 15, 2023.
Longshore Sailing School (Photo/John Videler for Videler Photography)
In 2017, Longshore Sailing School’s ownership changed hands. Jane Pimentel purchased all shares of its stock (including all assets: boats, docks, tools, furniture and equipment, at both locations) from Kantor for the token amount of $10.
Kantor, King and McGee now believe that “a public program, in a municipal park, should be run by a non-profit organization. That is the standard model for community sailing programs throughout the country. Now that the long-term lease is ending and the building is fully paid for, it is the right time for change.”
The trio have concerns about boating safety at Longshore. The Sailing School, they say, taught boating safety courses since 1960. But in 2017, the new owners “abruptly” stopped offering Connecticut Boating Safety certification courses.
In 2023, LSS also removed the boating safety component (one of the 2 weeks of “Sailing One”) from the junior program’s curriculum. “Boating safety education should never be compromised in a community sailing program – and certainly not for the sake of profit,” Kantor, King and McGee say.
They also note that a non-profit could give back to the community through lower user fees, and scholarship for people needing financial help.
Furthermore, they say, Pimentel’s group closed the sailboat rental program on weekdays in mid-August for the last 2 summers — “historically, the time of peak boat rental demand.” Last summer, they continue, LSS further cut sailboat rentals on weekdays through most of June.
In 2021, Kantor and fellow Greenwich Community Sailing Board members say, Longshore Sailing School abruptly abandoned its long relationship with Greenwich. It was “a needlessly embarrassing, avoidable, and well-publicized separation. Bridges were burned. As a result, LSS lost roughly 1/3 of its revenue, and its safety net of cooperative partnership.”
The bidders call the facility a winter “eyesore” Last year, they say, “tools, sails, electronics, hoses, etc. and all manner of equipment, including gasoline containers, were left unsecured outdoors – next to the children’s playground. Kayaks were left unsecured on beach racks, windows were left open, boats were left upright and uncovered – filled with moldy leaves, snow and ice – throughout the fall and winter.”
The situation seems the same this year.
(Photos/John Kantor)
Manchester — another bidder on the RFP — says that when vendors made a pre-proposal site visit to Longshore in late September, both they and the Parks & Rec team were surprised by the lack of upkeep on town-owned land.
Manchester calls it “a huge liability to the town, for any kid who walks a few steps from the playground and is injured.” The ice skating entrance is nearby too.
He adds, “Westport residents, the new hotel operator and any visitor will be stunned to see one of the best pieces of real estate in Westport being rented out as a junkyard, for a mere $5,000 license fee per annum.”
(“06880” covers the Westport waterfront. Please click here to support our hyper-local journalism. Thank you!)
Here’s another example of Jen Favs’s lack of due diligence. She should have been. aware of these unacceptable,unsafe conditions and done something about it. 2nd the fairness of the bidding process needs to be investigated. Will we find the Director’s personal gain involved?
What a catastrophe…On the perspective of “All Things Water”…SAFETY is the Number ONE Priority. There are no “discounts” when it comes to water…As a Private Swim School owner I see it all to often with other programs; you get what you pay for. If the sailing school is not properly funded, cared for, and given its “High Liability Risk Factors”…tragedy is looming. The lack of regard for equipment exemplifies the quality and safety of all boaters renting or participating in LSS program which = <10
Oh, for Gods sake. For many Facebook entities, you need to “Like” them in order to follow them.
I think there is a major topic of safety that has been conveniently forgotten. I will never forget the two kids that drowned with an instructor during John Kantor’s role as president/owner and at the helm of the business. I will never get over that. I think the safety is the first thing that employees at Longshore sailing think about when they show up for work.
As far as instruction for junior sailors. There were dozens of want to be level one instructors that could not get certified because there were not any classes available. Jane offered to run classes to accommodate the needs of the Junior Sailing programs.
Colin, I’ve been in the sailing school industry for 35 years now. John Kantor is literally one of the most respected sailing instructors in the country. He operated one of one of the most professionally run sailing schools in the country. Yes, an accident happened over the 50 years in operation, and lessons were learned.
After seeing what has happened to the quality, and therefore safety of the program under current ownership, I will NOT have my 10 and 13 year olds learn to sail at Longshore until standards go back to what they were!
The current owner’s neglect for the sailing fleet and safety boat fleet for at least five years will most certainly lead to a disaster, which will certainly land the current owner in serious trouble!! Go to the school today, and tell me that that boats are professionally maintained! Go ahead!
That “lesson” cost Westport tax payers $10M.
Mr. Loffedo, could you expound on your comment?
Secondly, the fact that Jane certified a bunch of Level One instructors, has nothing to do with the gross level of neglect that is currently on display with her sailing and safety boat fleet for all to see. I will NOT let my kids sail any of those boats! The neglect and lack of organization and maintenance is dangerous, and the mess is unacceptable.
Your comment is a cheap shot and factually incorrect. You should be ashamed.
Curious what you think is a cheap shot and not fact based?
Colin Walklet states. “I will never forget the two kids that drowned with an instructor during John Kantor’s role as president/owner and at the helm of the business. I will never get over that.” That, in fact, did not happen. Mr. Walklet’s phony outrage and so called concern is reprehensible. There was a tragedy fifteen years ago, and that is exactly what it was – a tragedy – but it is obvious that Mr. Walklet was not directly touched by that tragedy. He can’t even get the facts straight. But there were many people directly impacted in the Westport community and they are still dealing with that grief. That is why I called him out for his shameful and despicable comment. If you are looking for facts, Google is your friend.
Longshore Sailing School is amazing, as is the owner, Jane. There are hundreds of very happy families and customers, and we ALWAYS have safe , well cared for equipment and knowledgeable staff. They often rescue renters who have paddled astray,despite caution to the contrary, with a smile and a helping hand, not even charging them for the overtime. LSS is frequently called a “hidden gem” in reviews and elsewhere. I question the motives of the other potential “operators” trying to trash her reputation for a money grab. Dishonest and disgraceful
I couldn’t disagree more. The difference between what Longshore Sailing School was (one of the most respected sailing schools in the country), and what is has become, breaks my heart. Most of the best years of my life were during my time working there. I recently took my fiancé down to show her the place that helped shape who I am, but the property was a junkyard, and my excitement dissolved. No well run sailing school would be left in such pitiful condition during the off season.
I was serious thinking off registering MY ten and twelve year old – but I will NOT allow that to happen until the school is operated by professionals.
Walk down there RIGHT now, and then tell me if you agree or not. You can tell a lot about an operation by how they take care of their equipment. As a lifelong sailing instructor, I would not put my kids on the boats currently on site. No way!
I hope the town takes a closer look and makes a better decision. It is shameful what has happened in the past few years under the current ownership!
I have grown-up boating; I’ve been at it for over 40 years. My family and most of my friends and their children have taken classes at LSS with impressive instructors, including this past summer. Several instructors are nationally ranked and compete on their college teams. I know first hand that safety is always taught first, including to the youngest students. Our neighbor’s young son was a student this past summer. When I asked if he had fun he replied “SAFE fun”. As for boat storage: most people store their boats outside. We do, our neighbors do, and so do the Westport Police. The building is owned by the town, and there is no indoor storage area. In fact, the building is not even winterized; it’s up on pier as it is in a flood area. A lot of LSS boats are sold-off at the end of the summer and replaced by new boats. The equipment is always in great shape and the instructors go over the boat and boundaries with you each time you rent, even if they have seen you many times before. That’s the beach crew’s job, and they are very serious about it. Safety and knowledge is instilled in them by the LSS owner and very hands-on manager. In fact, the owner is so passionate about safe boating that she travels the country teaching it to college teams and clubs. Regardless of whether it’s new or last year’s model, all boats are taken-out by staff at the beginning of the summer before any renters are allowed to use them.
Jane lives locally and LSS contributes to our local community. The internet says you live in Marblehead, Mass, and run a school there. Trying to expand into Westport? If you do live in Mass, a local school would be much closer for your kids anyway.
Hello Valerie, I grew up in Weston, started my career at Longshore, and worked there for many amazing years.
I am by no means attacking Jane – I don’t even know her – BUT, I know exactly how Longshore WAS run, and know personally the amount of care that WAS taken to service, clean, and tightly pack all of the boats inside and under the protection of the covered porches for the off-season.
We trained all of our junior students to respect the boats and equipment that they used. I’d ask you to go take a walk around the property and tell me what you think. Is that level of care worthy of a sailing program run in your town? I know that it used to be!
I’ve noticed that NONE of the safety boats have been covered or properly winterized for the past few winters. I’ve noticed that random equipment has been left out laying in the mud. I’ve noticed a massive disorganized “junk yard” over by the playground for years – most likely with nails or what-have-you lying around. To those in the industry, this is laziness, neglect, or dangerous cost savings.
Instead of the proposal to move the entire playground away from the school to keep children safe, I propose that any operator of this program keep the town property orderly and safe – like it had been for decades. Is that too much to ask?
Like Jane, I do not live in Westport, and I have no intention of expanding my school into Westport like you suggest. I am just pointing out that I have been in the industry for 35 years, and know a professional program when I see one. I see red flags at Longshore, and that saddens me.
I also understand why the Town of Greenwich revoked Jane’s ability to operate out of their town. I started that program back in 1998, and was sad to hear what had happened to it before the current operators saved it.
The town of Westport has had a gem for decades, and they should pay closer attention to it!
One quick thing: the Town of Greenwich did not “revoke” Jane’s ability to operate there, it was Jane’s decision to withdraw due to uncertainty about the lease and renovations to the building. In fact, as stated in this Greenwich Times article (https://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Greenwich-Community-Sailing-makes-16617111.php), “The town said in a statement that it had been prepared to continue the lease with the sailing school for 2022”
I’m sorry… as a 50year plus resident of our fine town… and a graduate of the sailing school… the Current ownership is beyond abysmal.. I had a run in with the staff on Father’s Day one year… as I went out to get my Kayak Jane, who did not introduce herself, as owner manager or anything, rehashed the settled issue in front of my daughter and then said we could not go out on our excursion… She is not fit to be an owner operator of a true jewel of our community… she has turned the area into Sanford and Son.. This process needs to be transparent and have open books… and shame on parks and rec for not looking to see how things were at the location
I’ve been a resident for 30+ years and love our town too. The building lease does not include a storage facility. If keeping the area pretty in the winter is a concern, perhaps storage should be erected as part of a Longshore redevelopment plan.
You seem to be the soul person and supportive Jane… Jane is not from here part of my discussion with her and her workers were the philosophical points of stew, Leonard and the Mitchell’s family… she could care less and not be interested. They will never see my business. They will never see my families business and that is
I started working at Longshore in 1991 – my first full-time summer job while in high school and college. I helped start Longshore’s Greenwich “branch” in 1998, and ran it under John Kantor’s watchful eye through 2005. I have been in the sailing school industry ever since, and currently own a school in Boston, Warwick, RI, and the Caribbean.
The bottom line is that for 50 years, Longshore Sailing School was the poster child of what a safe, professionally managed and operated sailing school should be. The sailing school fleet had the highest standard of maintenance, the curriculum was second to none, and safety was a constant priority- year round.
Since the ownership change took place, I have watched the sailing school’s quality, and level of safety standards spiral downward – especially over the past few years. Go down there right now and look at the place. It is disgraceful, and an eye sore for all Westport residents, and those who visit – like me recently.
Under the current ownership, I would NOT trust my children to go to a school who cares for their fleet and property in this manner!!! It is shameful – and I think that the selection process for reviewing bids for the renewal is also shameful.
Do the right thing for your community, and demand that your elected officials review the selection process and choose nothing less than the high standards that existed for so many decades prior!
While I cannot speak to the RFP selection process, I would like to provide some factual information and perspective to refute some of the points made in this post. Disclaimer: I am a former student and staff member of LSS, taking classes in 2014 and being a staff member the past two summers.
-Safe Boating Certification: Connecticut Boating Safety certification classes resumed in the 2023 season, and all included a hands-on portion, which was not previously provided. This also allows people who got their CT safe boating certification online (as has been offered since COVID in 2020) the ability to get hands-on practice operating a boat in coastal waters, which is a crucial component towards actually being able to operate a boat safely in the Sound. It additionally provided students with a US Powerboating certification upon passing the class, which is helpful to rent powerboats across the country. This new class model prove to be quite popular, as all spots were filled later in the season.
-Upkeep on town-owned land: it is an incredibly high-traffic area, especially right after the summer season when the RFP site-visit was made. The ground is largely sand and rock, even if there is a shallow depth of dirt on top, which is near to impossible to grow grass on. Growth of grass, moss, and various other more sightly ground coverings have been attempted there, including this past summer, but the harsh environment combined with the salt air makes it quite difficult for anything to fully grow in the area. None of this effort for was put in by the town, it was all put in by the sailing school.
-Storage of items over the winter: There is very little space inside the building or under the covered outdoor decks to store items over the winter, and the surrounding ground area is quite rough and unwelcoming (as described above), and is quite prone to wind (as it is right on the water), which can easily tip over items (such as the sail container pictured near the end of this post). LSS is also very keen on resourcefulness and using/re-using parts instead of throwing away and purchasing new, both for the financial and environmental impact of that practice, so there is not really a great way to store spare parts and pieces, as anyone with an old boat or old parts in their yard would know (the area behind some bushes in my yard is quite the mess!)
-Safety of those going to the playground or skating rink: Part of the Longshore capital improvement plan is to relocate the playground away from the sailing school, both for the benefit of the playground and for the sailing program, so this concern will not last forever. There is also very minimal lighting in the area at night (as opposed to a higher-traffic area like the marinas), so if there is concern the town should be liable to put in some low-energy, directional lighting to provide an extra level both of security for the playground/skating rink and the safety of anyone walking through the sailing school area (which isn’t much of a destination for people using the skating rink, as the entire sailing school area is well past the skating rink along the brick pathway).
-Closing of sailing rental during weekdays in mid-august: This is due to staffing, as most of the staff is college or high-school aged and is either going back to college or doing last-minute preparations/summer work before going back to classes locally. The program also wanted to focus their remaining staff on the safety and continuation of the youth sailing program, which is the core aspect of sailing education and continued over these weeks. Kayak and paddle board rentals continued on these weekdays.
-In terms of the for-profit vs. non-profit business model: I cannot speak to the merits or reasoning behind either business model, however this year open spots in junior sailing classes were given away FOR FREE on Facebook (including Westport Front Porch on July 31st) so that the spots wouldn’t just go empty and more students could have access to sailing education.
-Safety has never been a concern for renters – at the first sign of inclement weather all boats are pulled off the water (from about 1.5 square miles of coverage area, which isn’t something to scoff at), and all rented sailboats are monitored at all times by a lookout from the second floor of the building. At the first sign of trouble or when a boat goes out of sight, an instructor (or two) are dispatched on a powerboat to help the boater. LSS also has a great rapport with the Westport Police Marine Division, which is a huge asset.
I look forward to attending the Board of Selectwomen meeting on Wednesday morning.
During my time at Longshore (1991-2005), we never had staffing issues. The staff loved the culture and came to help off season whenever possible. Now, suddenly staff problems during peak season?? I am sorry to say it, but these problems usually lead back to poor management.
For 50 years, boats were serviced, washed, and neatly packed away for the winter. Attention to detail that took MANY hours of work. Please don’t make excuses for the neglect and mess. Someone has to own it.
This isn’t how a professional operation takes care of the very equipment they send customers out on all summer! This level of maintenance is a ticking time bomb, and what I saw recently fails every safety standard that I’ve ever been taught in my 35 years in the industry.
Your mention of the lack of staffing issues while you worked there led me to research some statistics about which colleges Staples students choose to go to over the years. Since 2021 the Guidance department at Staples has published some great information about which schools get the most applicants and the most Staples students that end up going there. I collated this information and found some interesting numbers:
In 2021, there were numbers available about the top 23 schools that Staples grads (from the class of 2021) ended up going to. Out of these top 23 schools, 29 students went to in-state schools, and 174 went to out of state schools.
2022 data is similar: the top 25 schools were mentioned, with 22 students going to in-state schools and 155 going to out of state.
2023 data follows a similar trend: 20 top schools mentioned, with 17 students going in-state (in this case only UConn was in the top 20), and 142 students went to out of state schools.
I don’t know what percentage of LSS staff were college students during your time there, but this year it was about 60%. I also don’t know the exact numbers of how many of the LSS staff this year were Staples graduates versus graduates of other local schools, though I imagine the overall trends are similar throughout Fairfield County. Out-of-state college students tend to leave before in-state colleges, or at the very least take time off of work earlier in order to pack/prepare to head out. I myself am part of this, as I attend the University of Michigan, and therefore take time off work earlier. I wanted to present this data as additional information/perspective. All of this data is publicly available if you would like to verify it (I searched for “SHS Class of 2021/22/23 College Admissions Data”, if that aids your search).
I expect this matter to be aired fully at the BoS meeting and, most likely, a vote will not be taken until at least a second meeting. Possibly, a more lengthy time will have to pass in order to get this right.
The LSS never looked like this or failed to provide great teaching and rentals when John Kantor ran it for decades. And his gifting the building to the town certainly says a lot about this lifetime Westporter.
Having been employed by LSS for 6 years under both former and current management, I firmly disagree with how this article portrays the current state of LSS. The culture of safe boating that currently exists is incredibly strong, and Jane has ensured that safety is a top priority for all who visit and work there. Jane’s passionate care for staff, students, and customers is top notch. Whether it is a young student learning to sail and be safe on the water, or a college student providing instruction and learning to be a more mature version of themselves, there is an environment at the current LSS that allows people to learn and grow. The improvements made in training and best practices at the school under Jane’s leadership have made it is a place where people are excited to go to work at and be a part of. I truly could not imagine a more fit owner to keep the school moving in a positive direction.
I find this article incredibly misleading and biased. It honestly hurts my feelings to see one of the kindest and most uplifting people I’ve ever met disrespected like this. Not only does it grossly misrepresent LSS, but it also insults all the hard work and effort Jane has put into caring for this business. I worked under Jane in 2017 & 2018 and to this day it remains one of the best jobs I have ever had and her one of the best bosses I ever had. When I was hired, I wasn’t the most experienced sailor on staff and definitely wasn’t the most knowledgeable. If you asked me what Bernoulli’s principle was, I would have told you that it’s a great sandwich at Gaetano’s. Though never once did I feel any less equal than any other member on the staff. I believe that was because Jane, even though she was just starting, worked to foster a new culture of comfort that, according to some of my peers who had already been working there for a few years, did not exist before. Honestly, when I first started, I underestimated how much work was required to safely and efficiently run a business. Jane made it seem so routine and smooth like Barry Sanders’s running. I believe that if LSS were to return to the previous ownership it would be taking a step in the wrong direction.
I grew up in Westport, and as a student took nearly every class available at LSS. At 18 I joined the staff in 2017 when the school ownership changed hands. Speaking that summer with some of the older staff members who had worked previous years, there had clearly been a shift in the culture at the school: A more hands on management approach that focused not only on the students/customers, but the well-being of the staff as well. Jane was never afraid to take charge in a situation regarding the safety of students, customers, or staff which always came first. She is an incredibly qualified and passionate owner who worked hard to create a culture where students and staff felt free to learn, grow, and have fun while doing so. We reached record numbers of students and rentals during the summer of 2020, a year which we did not even know if the school would open due to Covid. The fleet has been revamped from the decades old boats that I sailed in as a child. Taking that initiative was not an easy task. I am truly proud to have worked at Longshore in the recent years. I love Longshore Sailing School, and Jane has done an incredible job maintaining and reshaping it for what the future junior sailors in the area need.
Longshore has been my home away from home since 2008. I love LSS with all of my heart as a former student and staff member. My time as a LSS staff member stands as my favorite job I have had so far… I doubt it will be surpassed. This is because Jane created a culture that rewarded hard work and ensured mutual respect. She took care of us, always keeping us hydrated, fed, and ensuring we took breaks to avoid heat stroke and burning out. Jane has never ceased to amaze me. Year in and year out, she commits herself to bettering OUR community. Whether it is by replacing old Hunter 140s in favor of newer, more stable RS Quests, or offering her kayak fleet and instructors to lead clean-ups on the Saugatuck river, Jane is a huge asset to Westport’s sailing community. I worked for Jane for a proud 5 years and change. She is dedicated to safety above all else. While I am sure that prioritizing the safety of customers and staff was not always the easiest decision, I have never once seen her waver. She is very well qualified, strong, and a role model. She taught me to instruct with kindness and patience. She teaches her staff to foster curiosity for physics, marine science, and more. I firmly believe that LSS is a better school for having Jane Pimentel.
I have no opinion of the various applicants, and I might just be missing something but I see nothing about this rfp or the bids for it on the town site nor was there much, if any, public discussion. This seems to be consistent with a lot of parks and rec projects under this administration.
Longshore Sailing School has had a large impact on my life, both as a school and as an employer. I had the pleasure of taking courses at LSS for almost 8 years and worked there for 6 summers starting in 2016. Having witnessed the transfer in ownership firsthand, I can safely say that Jane has made tremendous improvements to the school as a whole and continues to prioritize the safety of the staff, students, and the general public. Whether it is modernizing the sailboat fleet or enhancing the sailing curriculum, she has been a large part of the school’s success over the past few years. She is a qualified and driven leader who is dedicated to pushing the school to new heights. As a manager, she taught me effective leadership skills both on and off the water, and always prioritized the well-being of her staff and their students, especially during the height of the pandemic. She takes an active and hands-on role in running the business, from interacting with customers to teaching classes and facilitating boat rentals. She is forward- thinking in adapting the school to fit the needs of the public and has a passion for giving back to the community, including providing Safe Boating and Level 1 courses to the general public. These have proven not only to be popular but help to ensure the safety of the boating community. My time at LSS gave me some of the best memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life, in a large part due to the welcoming and close-knit environment that brings students and staff alike back every summer. I have no doubt that Jane will continue to ensure that Longshore Sailing School remains an asset to Westport and the greater community at large.
I also feel compelled as a former student and long time staff member of both owners to comment here. As my of my former coworkers have reiterated, this post is extremely biased and fails to recognize any of the wonderful improvements Jane has made to LSS. I cherish my times at LSS, where I learned to sail, and was so grateful for the opportunity to give back as an employee. Jane continues to promote safety at every level and the requirements to work at LSS remain as high as ever. The safety standards have not changed under her leadership, and I firmly believe we are all committed to these high standards. I am happy to see that she has offered opportunities for folks in the community to take a variety of safety and certification courses. She upgraded the fleet, moved towards online booking systems which helped us become even more efficient and organized during the pandemic times, and countless other improvements. Unfortunately, posts such as this only reinforce one side of the discussion and do not fully represent everything at play here.
As a teenager, John Kantor essentially created Westport’s sailing program at Longshore. Then, he nurtured it for 50 years and shaped it into a nationwide model. He donated his building to the town and basically gifted his company to a successor who is now a competitor
By what calculus, would he and his team not come out as the best contract vendor for Longshore sailing? Disappointing.
I have been working at Longshore Sailing School since 2020, and I’ve been a student there for three years prior. For as long as I knew Jane, she was, and is, one of the most supportive, kind, and fair people I’ve met. Her dedication to the betterment of the longshore experience, for the students, renters AND staff is undeniable. She has always been a firm champion of the Longshore motto: Safety, Learning, Fun. I’ve gotten to work as a Dispatcher, helping out with renters, as well as a Junior Instructor, and full Instructor, teaching classes, and in each instance, every day I would witness both kids and adults walking away with huge smiles on their faces. As a manager, Jane is super approachable. All of the staff know that if they have any sort of issues, need help, have improvement suggestions, or just need someone to talk to, Jane will always make time and hear them out. Jane also fosters an incredibly tight knit community among the staff. The people I have worked with, I consider to be my closest friends. In short, Jane has gifted me, and I am sure thousands of other people, an unforgettable experience at Longshore, as both student, and staff member. Every year I see her only improving the Longshore Sailing School, and I sincerely hope she will have the chance to do so in the following years.
I am sorry to see that this has devolved into a “pro Jane” vs. “anti Jane” conversation. I would not know Jane if she crossed the street in front of me. This is not personal. Indeed, it is affirming to hear how impactful the sailing school has been and continues to be for students and staff alike. However, the back and forth has eclipsed the concerns regarding the transparency of the RFP process and conflict of interest, and a genuine conviction that a community sailing program should be served by a non-profit entity and not run by a for-profit enterprise. This is not about a person, this about a process and a program. (Sorry if this posts twice, first post disappeared into the ether.)
My kids both became Level 1 certified through Long Shore with Jane. She runs a professional educational program that is admired by others in the area. She provides more opportunities to become certified offering more classes and makes it possible for all. Not to only cater to an elite demographic. LSS has become a great Summer experience for many. Don’t let greed and power take it over.
I’d like to simply start off by saying I wouldn’t change the last two years of my life. The past two summers have been the best summers of my life. From what I’m understanding is those who are commenting simply don’t know the whole story in the sense of the judgement of character prior to understanding who someone is. Longshore is a family; a community; and a place where you wake up excited to represent and be a part of. I used that word represent because at the end of the day all of the staff is proud to state they worked at longshore. Safety is a great deal to all of us; at the end of the day parents are entrusting us to care and teach their child. That is a great responsibility not to be taken lightly.
The class of discussion (SAILING 1) was shrunk and cost was lowered because at the end of the day when there is a waiting list for students we are going to try to allow more to learn and gain a passion for the sport. At the end of the day I can assume we all love the sport if we are reading this article but there is passion behind longshore and that simply comes from the roots of longshore which is Jane. Without Jane there is no longshore I could not picture anyone else greeting staff and students in the morning; checking in renters; and ensuring smooth operations of a day to day.
Regardless of what happens just know that Jane is one in a million. You can sit at home and judge an individual based on what an individual states or get to know them and understand that you will never meet someone with more passion and care for Longshore and it’s patrons than Jane and the Managers.
I have worked for Jane at LSS for the past 4 summers, thus far. Before that, I was a student for many years. I can only emphasize what many of my current and former coworkers, and even former instructors, have already made clear. That is to say, not once have I ever felt endangered or questioned the safety of my students, coworkers, the rest of the community, or myself while under the current management. Never. Ever since my first day working at Longshore in 2020, safety on and off the water has ALWAYS been the number one concern. It’s ingrained in every single employee and it’s a core component of the various curricula that we teach our students. Jane Pimentel cares about safety, learning, the students, her staff, and the community. That is the bottom line.
As someone who spent many summers attending LSS under Kantor’s ownership, it was an amazing place. The mere fact that the safe boating certificate course was eliminated is a major red flag. I was hoping for my daughter to attend LSS and get her CT SBC there in the future. Whatever Westport decides, they should require the next leaseholder to offer the initial course and SBC, non-negotiable. I’ve been boating for 30 years now, still out of Westport, still with my SBC from LSS.
CT Safe Boating courses have been reinstated at LSS as of June 2023, in addition to US Powerboating hands-on courses: https://www.longshoresailingschool.com/power-boating (the link to enroll is not live as classes have not been published yet).
I grew up attending classes at Longshore and worked there for many summers after. I have witnessed the positive change in culture at Longshore as well as the quality of instruction improve as a result of ownership transferring from John to Jane. Because of Jane’s leadership, Longshore has significantly improved its classes, to the point of fine-tuning courses such as beginner sailing classes to the attention spans and interests of nine-year-olds or offering classes for boat handlers to feel comfortable handling powerboats. Boating safety has never been compromised — it is simply taught in an integrated way.
I will say I’m confused on the grounds of many of John and others’ accusations… For starters, every day that I’ve walked through Longshore, worked there, and attended classes there, Longshore’s property has been beautifully taken care of, so these accusations seem to be an outlier, in my experience.
Jane, and therefore Longshore, has also consistently worked to address student’s differences, backgrounds, stories, and fears, something that I’ve had the opportunity to take part in, under her leadership. This includes renters and employees. Longshore has VASTLY improved in handling all people with respect and safety. Jane’s Longshore meets people where they are at, genuinely interested in connecting people with each other and their passions. Longshore is a business that I admire in terms of how Jane runs it today.
Board of Selectpersons meeting, 12/13 update:
“ WITHDRAWN 12-11-2023
To take such action as the meeting may determine upon the request of the Director of Parks & Recreation to approve the License Agreement between the Town of Westport and Longshore Sailing School as it relates to the sailing school and boat rental operation at Longshore Club Park.”
The hypocrisy of unnamed “sources” referenced in this article crying “conflict of interest” over Stu Gilfillen’s participation in Westport’s Parks & Rec interview panel is beyond belief.
I live in Greenwich where, as one of the posters already noted, in 2021 after Jane Pimentel, the current operator of the Long Shore school, was undeniably slow-played by the town of Greenwich in her reasonable requests for information, and was forced to withdraw from the town’s annual lease renewal process in existence at the time. The town hurriedly issued an RFP and reviewed proposals for a new sailing program, with various town and expert representatives involved. One of those experts was a representative from the Old Greenwich Yacht Club, where Bill King was the commodore for many years. The same Bill King who is partners and old friends with John Kantor and running the Tod’s Point Sailing School that won the Greenwich Sailing bid in an unprecedented six week time period. If that isn’t a conflict of interest, I don’t know what is. Oh, and after years of the Greenwich sailing lease requiring renewal on an annual basis, Tod’s Point Sailing school now enjoys a 5-year lease on the Chimes Building at Greenwich Point! Think this is just my opinion? Check the Greenwich Times articles from that time and check the timing of CT business records for Greenwich Sailing School if you don’t believe me.
Now for my opinion: The forcing of Jane Pimentel’s hand by the town of Greenwich in 2021 and the sudden emergence of Tod’s Point Sailing smelled like an inside deal at the time and still done. It’s clear Bill and John are at it again. They’ve submitted a proposal to Westport Parks 7 Rec and it wasn’t accepted as the winner. Their answer has been to launch a smear campaign aimed at your Park and Rec Department Director Jen Favs and the current operator of the Long Shore Sailing School Jane Pimentel . It’s become all too common for the losers of a competition (or election) to cry foul, to question the integrity of the selection process, bad mouth the winner and to tell historical half-truths or outright lies.
To be honest, I have never met any of the people named in this article. In particularly, I do not know Bill or John and I don’t care to. Their reputations proceed them in Greenwich and are consistent with their underhanded behavior on display now. It is shameful.
I wish I could say I’m surprised that a woman’s success in business is being undermined and scrutinized by old men. I wholeheartedly support Jane’s leadership at Longshore, which has brought about transformative changes since the ownership transition. From enhancing the fleet with purpose, to refining the curriculum with precision, Jane’s strategic expertise has significantly elevated the institution. Under her leadership, the focus on safety has been paramount, resulting in a track record where everyone has stayed safe. Longshore’s steadfast commitment to impeccable standards, under her guidance, is observable on a daily basis. Going beyond academics, Jane has adeptly fostered a dynamic and inclusive community, positioning Longshore as a focal point for authentic connections. Her unwavering dedication to excellence and visionary leadership continue to positively shape the institution. This should not be up for debate.
THIS A DIRECT EXAMPLE OF WHY GOVERNMENT IS FAILING US TODAY MORE THAN EVER!
IT IS ALSO WHY WE HAVE LOST SO MUCH FAITH IN OUR ELECTED LEADERS AND GOVERMENT AGENCIES!
I am so glad I live in Westport where poor efforts, planning snd exevution stay in full view!