“In many respects, the entire staff looks forward to the competition all summer long,” said Matt Kanaga, Longshore’s Business Manager.  ”At the same time, everyone knows Racing Tech marks the end-of-summer and the start of a new school year.  It’s bitter-sweet.”

This year, nine participants competed for the Junior Program crown.  However, amidst the competition was sportsmanship and camaraderie.  ”Regardless of the leader board, everyone had moments of brilliance on the water,” remarked John Kantor, the sailing schools founder.   “It’s an individual sport on the water.  But on the beach this group of students was a team.”

William Hamer, the 2010 Junior Program Champion sailing on Day 3 of the week long regatta.

Longshore Sailing School will be open for boat rentals and private instruction through September 12th and the weekend of September 18th and 19th (Saturday and Sunday) for kayak and paddleboard rentals.

Even though the fleet was sailing with lower horsepower 4.7 rigs, virtually every boat capsized at least once. On one spectacular death-rolley downwind leg (the next to last of the day) there were 5 boats capsized simultaneously in a single gust. It was a contest of survival.

Over the 4 races sailed today everyone showed moments of brilliance. The one with the most moments was Will – 3 bullets in 4 races. For now, he is firmly in the lead. The race for second place is a point apart.  Stay tuned, RT fans.

Longshore will be posting scoring updates in the evening throughout the week.

Narrated by Frank Deford, the 26-minute film features interviews with people instrumental in creating and sustaining this much-loved and treasured recreational facility for the enjoyment of Westport residents and visitors. Longshore Sailing School owner John Kantor plays a starring role as he shares lifelong memories of “the Club,” as his parents called the Longshore Beach & Country Club, a fabled haunt of New York power brokers and show-biz celebrities from the 1930s until its purchase by the town in 1960.

Also showcased in this fascinating film are rare archival photos as well as stunning aerial and on-the-ground tours of the park today. Produced by the Longshore 50th Anniversary Committee, the film will be show at a special outdoor presentation at the Levitt Pavilion on August 10, starting at 8 p.m. It’s also being broadcast locally on Channel 88 at 6 p.m. on Thursdays through August, and can be purchased as a DVD ($25, tax deductible) at the Longshore Sailing School.

For a glimpse of this much-acclaimed new documentary, click on this link to watch a short preview. And to hear former instructors and staffers sharing their favorite LSS stories, visit this selection of short video interviews conducted at the School’s 50th Reunion celebration on July 2.

Joining Lines of Different Diameter

In the animation two lines of equal diameter are shown. The Sheet Bend is also capable of tying lines of different diameters together. When this is the case, the larger line should assume the simpler role forming a bend as demonstrated by the red line. The smaller line then forms the hitch as shown by the white line in the animation.

Finally, it is important the end of both lines be positioned on the same side of knot when complete. This helps the hitch from slipping through the bend.

A Variation for More Security

Under dynamic conditions, where the Sheet Bend may be continuously loaded and unloaded, a second turn under the hitch is advised. This transforms a Sheet Bend into a Double Sheet Bend as shown in the image below. The second turn helps prevent the knot from working itself apart.

Indeed, the variety of knots is a function of circumstance.  What if you require a loop that won’t slip?  Or, if necessary, can be untied under load?  What if two lines with different diameters need to be tied together?  Or a line needs to be kept from running free of a block?

Through our ‘Know your Knots’ series we hope to show you knot tying is an art form and one that’s fun to learn.

Our First Knot, The Bowline

The Bowline (pronounced /ˈboʊlɪn/ or /ˈboʊlaɪn/) is a yachtsman’s favorite.  Although we rate it a three out of five on our difficulty scale, once you’ve mastered it we’re sure you’ll use it time-and-again.

The Bowline is used to form a loop (or eye) in the end of a line.  It is designed not to slip or jam.

To tie the bowline make a small loop a foot-or-so from the end of the line.  At Longshore we teach the riddle “the rabbit,” the end of the rope, “comes out of its hole,” the loop you just made, “goes around the tree,” the opposite end of the loop, “and back into his hole again“.  You can use the buttons to the right to step through the process or click ‘Animate’ to loop through the sequence of pictures.  Practice saying it while you do it:

The rabbit comes out of its hole,
goes around the tree, and
back into his hole again.

Being able to untie a knot is just as important as tying it.

If untying a knot seems trivial, then you’ve never loaded one enough for it to jam.  A shining property of the bowline is its refusal to jam, even under heavy load.  In fact, the knot can always be untied by loosing it from ‘the bunny’s path around the tree’.

The sailing school is offering personalized engraved bricks for the Memorial Brickwalk at $25 off (now $50 rather than $75). The Memorial Brickwalk was donated to LSS in 2002 by Friends of Longshore Sailing School (FOLSS). This summer, 50% of the proceeds will go to the FOLSS kids scholarship fund, which gives less fortunate children an opportunity to learn how to sail here at Longshore. The other 50% will go towards Westport’s public celebrations and research of Longshore Club Park’s history.

Celebrate 50 years of community building at Longshore Club Park and Longshore Sailing School.

Rentals are already available, and courses in both the junior and adult curriculum are approaching. Our first paddleboarding course for adults (ages 17 and older) will be offered on Saturday June 26th from 9:30am-12pm. You can register for the course (WSUP-626) online or call us at 203 226 4646. In our junior specialty program, we are also excited to announce the first of our week long Ultimate Paddling courses for students aged 12-16 on June 21-25 Monday-Friday 2:30-5pm . Register for SUP-02 online or by calling the office.

Check back for more announcements on upcoming courses at Longshore!

Aspiring Sailors and Tennis Stars may choose to spend the morning on the water and afternoon on the court, or vice-versa.  No matter what your child’s level of skill in tennis or sailing, beginner through advanced, there is always a place for him or her in both programs.

Both organizations have arranged their schedules to align during the following weeks this summer.  Each session spans a two week period.  Please call the Westport Tennis Club at (203) 255-3481 and Longshore Sailing School, (203) 226-4646, to sign up.

For busy parents, transportation arrangements between Longshore Club Park and Westport’s Tennis Club can be made through Kids on the Go (203) 221-1421.

As a bonus to those planning to take the Connecticut Safe Boating and Personal Watercraft Exam this spring and summer – you’ll find the questions here are very similar, making them ideal for studying.