Over the years, thousands of youngsters have learned safety, techniques and tactics at Longshore Sailing School.
Today it’s a thriving operation. LSS offers group and private lessons for children, teenagers and adults, along with sailboat, kayak and paddleboard rentals. You can book the handsome building for private events.
It’s come a long way. Back in the day — 1966, to be exact — this was the Longshore Sailing School:
(Photo courtesy of Christopher Maroc)
Do you have memories of the Longshore Sailing School — from 1966, 1996, 2016 or any other time? Click “Comments” below.
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Best kids program. They loved it ‼️
My husband and I took classes there in 1978. Mostly, I wound up in irons, but Jim had a gift for the wind. He could just hike right out skimming the waves & loving it. Great experience!
My brother Steve Turner was an instructor there back in the 70s. He went on the crew on a boat all the way to Germany, and another one to Hawaii. He loved sailing !
John Kantor instructed both of my boys and my grandson. My oldest went on to be a sailing instructor himself. It is a wonderful program. I watched it grow from day one. I was a life guard at Longshore then
My dad, who built Aqua Cats in South Norwalk in the 60’s, introduced me to John Kantor and I became a junior instructor in the late 60’s. I remember John and the more senior instructors (lol, they were old – in their 20’s) as being great sailors, instructors and fun for all ages. Some went on to be world-class sailors. Moved to Florida at age 16 but love keeping up with the generations that have benefited and thrived every summer. Westport is a special place to live and play. John Kantor and all the others that provide positive and healthy programs for close to 60 years are a Westport treasure. Yes, I certainly recall working out of that shack. Loved it!
I started with Basic Boating in 1966 (I don’t know if I am in the photo, or not), then Basic Sailing, Advanced Sailing, then Racing (at the time, they had one or two Atlantics). Great way to spend a few weeks during the summers while growing up.
I’m certain that so many would agree that JK’s sailing school was some of the best of times growing up in Westport.
It was just John teaching the classes at the time this photo was taken. It was the summer of 1967. I would bet that both me, and my older brother, Jeff, are in this picture. I recall you had to pass a swim test to be accepted into his school. John had an informal rule that if your family had a boat, you could skip his 1st class which was “Rowboats”. JK was an inspiring, fun, very knowledgeable teacher who didn’t treat you like a kid. I remember taking “Basic Sailing”, “Advance Sailing”, “Racing Techniques”. I’ve used his teachings often like, “The Vanderbilt Start” to great success. He taught us the physics of sailing, (and I was in just 7th grade), and it all stayed with me to this day. He knew how to teach kids without sucking all the fun out of it. There was “capsize training” and the race around Cockenoe Island in an Aqua Cat, where I won “Best Sailor”. Yes, some of the best summer days for so many of Westport’s youth.
Naturally, as soon as my son Greg, came of age, we signed him up for JK’s Longshore Sailing School. He took every class and became a certified sailing instructor, working for John for years and they became great friends.
A great Friday Flashback photo. Thanks Dan.
Eric, I may be a contemporary of yours but your son son Greg was my “boss” when I joined LSS about 20 years ago. Such wonderful kids and Greg was a great leader. Great times and my own son, Sam, grew up there. Sam never took to sailing enough to become an instructor but has very fond memories of summers there.
I took basic boating on that porch and my brother and I progressed through all the sailing classes. So much fun and great skill building.
I worked there for seven years. But it wasn’t work it was fun with a great group of people with whom I am still friends.