Tod's Point Sailing School Gearing Up For Summer

GREENWICH, CT — When Greenwich Community Sailing left Tod's Point last fall after a leasing dispute with the town, the future of a sailing program in Greenwich was in doubt.

But two longtime friends have stepped up to ensure that thousands of Greenwich residents will continue to get access to the Long Island Sound through the newly-formed Tod's Point Sailing School.

Volunteers Bill King and John Kantor are currently gearing up and preparing TPSS for the next sailing season, which is set to get underway Memorial Day Weekend.

The two started Greenwich Community Sailing at Tod's Point in 1998 under the stewardship of Longshore Sailing based in Westport, which Kantor ran for several decades. In 2017, Kantor sold Longshore, and GCS continued operating in town up until last fall.

When GCS bowed out, King and Kantor knew they had to do something.

"We, as many people in the town of Greenwich, were stunned and obviously deeply concerned," King said.

Kantor, who was retired, said he and King almost called each other at the exact same time as soon as they heard the news. The Parks & Recreation Department also received countless calls and emails from residents clamoring for a sailing program.

"When that happened, I woke up from retirement and said, 'Woah, this is not good. We've got to put the band back together and make this thing work,'" Kantor said. "I want to see the legacy continue, and the community really wants it. That's a recipe for success."

King and Kantor went through the town's Request For Proposal process, and were chosen as the new operators. Their lease can be renewed each year for up to five years.

First Selectman Fred Camillo said the return of a sailing program to Tod's Point "is welcome news to the hundreds, if not thousands" of Greenwich residents who have benefited from the program in the past.

"I would like to thank the Parks Department for working hard on this, to those who stepped up to the plate when we needed them, and to all the residents who reached out and signaled their support," Camillo said. "We look forward to a fun year of sailing at the Point this year."

TPSS's mission is to offer public access to the Sound through various sailing classes for juniors and adults, and also through boat rentals. Teaching water and boating safety will also be a priority, King said.

There is no membership requirement and no need to own a boat. There will be a variety of small vessels, both sail and paddle, available to the public. Patrons can pay as they go, without any ongoing obligation or long-term commitment.

Operations and equipment will once again be based out of the Chimes Building. However, the facility is slated to undergo a major renovation in the fall of 2022, which is expected to impact a sailing season. This was a factor in GCS leaving last year.

In the RFP document, the town said, "There will likely be a period of time in which the Chimes Building and surrounding area will be closed for construction. The Town has limited control over the timing of this project. The Town will give reasonable notice to the Licensee regarding commencement of the construction."

Further, the town said it may choose to offer the licensee an alternate location at Greenwich Point to operate out of while construction is underway.

King and Kantor said they're looking forward to a new building, and temporary relocation won't pose a problem.

"They're specifically building out a sailing center for us, so it's going to be a really nice operation," King said.

There will be about 73 boats, including several safety boards, 28 kayaks, 16 paddleboards and a variety of different sailboats. Some of the vessels arrived early this week.

Kantor said that in the two weeks since TPSS launched, there have been about 140 people who have signed up for classes.

Kantor expects somewhere between 500-800 people will sign up.

"We can't wait. We've had tremendous support from the community and from the town. Almost all the staff is coming back from last year. We're all pretty enthused and we can't wait to get started," Kantor said.

King said at full-strength, there should be around 30 employees.

King and Kantor have years worth of experience on the water.

"Personally, I just love being out on the water, particularly in a sailboat as opposed to a power boat with all the noise going on," King said. "Just the wind rustling through the sails and cruising along, and just enjoying being out on the water... We'd like to impart that on all the people who do partake in the program."

For Kantor, teaching sailing is just as enjoyable as sailing itself.

"I like to see others catch on to it," he said. "That challenge of bringing it to others is what keeps me in the game so long."

TPSS is accepting donations to help get operations off the ground. Every dollar that is raised will go into the program. King and Kantor are working strictly as volunteers.

For more information on the fundraiser, click here.

For more on TPSS, go to their website.