Longshore Sailing School

Longshore Sailing School's mission is to provide public recreational access to Long Island Sound.

Photograph of the school from just offshore

Founded in 1960, by the Town of Westport Recreation Commission, the school is open to the public for instruction and hourly boat rentals. It has operated privately under the name Longshore Sailing School since 1975.[1][2] The school operates at the Longshore Club Park in Westport under the name Longshore Sailing School and in association with Old Greenwich Yacht Club at Tod's Point under the name Greenwich Community Sailing.[3][4]

Longshore offers an extensive curriculum for both children and adults. It also rents sailboats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards by the hour to the public from Memorial Day weekend through mid-September.

The Junior Program for ages 8 through 16 offers one- and two-week courses.[3] Longshore's signature Core Curriculum is a progression of four 2-week courses: Sailing 1, Sailing 2 Sailing 3, and Sailing 4. It also offers 1-week Specialty courses: Racing Techniques, WaterBugs, WaterCats, Intro to Catamaran Sailing, Advanced Catamaran Sailing, Paddling Adventures, and Ultimate Paddling.[4]

The Adult Program offers weekend courses, including Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Sailing.

CT licensing courses, including personal watercraft and towing endorsement, are offered in a one-day, 8-hour format.[3]

The school's staff includes US Sailing Association certified instructors, Instructor Trainers and USCG licensed Masters.[4]

Greenwich Community Sailing is open only to Greenwich residents. It maintains an extensive fleet of small sailboats, kayaks and paddle-boards for instruction and rental.

Longshore Sailing School is "among the oldest and most renowned sailing programs in the country" and has earned "the country's most prestigious sail training awards".[5]