Yacht Club to host Splash and Sparkle Party
Synchronized swimming will take center stage this weekend at the Cape Coral Yacht Club pool.
Gulf Coast Synchro is sponsoring a Splash and Sparkle Party from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature lessons on synchronized swimming, as well as children’s games and activities.
“The Cape Coral Yacht Club has a long history of synchronized swim shows,” Barbara Dickinson, manager of the facility, said. “That tradition ended a couple of years ago.”
Every year, the Yacht Club would offer a synchronized swimming program, which would culminate with a show that included music, costumes and lights. In 2010, the annual performance marked its 31st anniversary – the last show. The program continued for another year before it also was eliminated.
Dickinson explained that there were no instructors available to oversee it.
“We haven’t done the synchro for a couple of years,” she said.
This summer, the Yacht Club has been hosting a synchronized swim class with the goal of bringing back the full program. A show had been planned at the end, but there were not enough students in the class.
“This is to try to generate more interest in the program,” Dickinson said of the weekend event. “The children at the party – they can actually get in the water. They can learn some synchro moves.”
The Splash and Sparkle Party is open to children ages 7 to 17, who can swim.
Advance registration is required as space is limited to 30 youth.
“We only have so many instructors,” she said.
If there are spots still available Saturday, the Yacht Club will accept walk-ins.
“We would prefer that they sign up,” Dickinson said.
After the synchronized swimming lessons, there will be a contest for the best short routine, most creative routine and funniest routine. Water-related games are also planned, like a water relay.
“There’ll be prizes,” she said.
Medals and water-related items, such as noodles, nose clips and goggles, will be awarded.
There will be photo booth on site, and party participants will be treated to pizza.
“It’s all free,” Dickinson said. “It’s a free party.”
To register for the Splash and Sparkle Party, contact the Yacht Club at 239-574-0806.
While the Cape Coral Yacht Club and Gulf Coast Synchro have teamed up to offer recreational classes in synchronized swimming, the swim organization is also looking at assembling a competitive team.
“They’re hoping to put together a team,” she said.
In September, the Yacht Club will again offer a synchronized swimming class. Participants will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. Open to ages 7 and up, the eight sessions will cost $75 total.
“It’s for beginners and advanced,” Dickinson said.
When the Cape was first getting started, the Yacht Club played a major role for its residents.
“The pool was one of the focal points in the community – it has such a history,” she said. “We’ve got multiple generations of history here with that (synchronized swimming) program.”
DarlaJean Griffiths and Lynne Manley oversee Gulf Coast Synchro. For more information about the swim organization, call Griffiths at 239-671-9190 or visit online: www.gulfcoastsynchro.org.
For additional information about the Splash and Sparkle Party, visit: www.capecoral.net.
The Cape Coral Yacht Club pool is at 5819 Driftwood Parkway.