Our History
Cypress Cove is a "Life Plan Community" (CCRC) located in Fort Myers, Florida. Plans to adapt one of the ponds at Cypress Cove for boating came about in 2001. The visionaries of what is now the largest social club within Cypress Cove were early residents Bob Moore, John Chapin, and Calvin Eells. For months, these avid boaters had been eyeing a piece of shoreline along the back bay of the large lake that separates Cypress Cove and HealthPark Medical Center. Thus began a collaborative project with a new dock being built in 2001. The Grand Opening of the Yacht Club was October 17, 2001. They had three sailboats, four kayaks and one canoe… all available for use by members. The Yacht Club did not enter the world of radio-controlled sailboat racing until 2004… and it has grown in popularity ever since. Today, resident sailors compete for the right to add their name to the coveted “Chalfin Cup.” The Cup was a gift from Harry Chalfin in honor of his brother who was killed in the Korean War. It recognizes the “Best of the Year” based upon the total accumulated point scores over the entire year. Between 2011 and 2014 the “Boxing Day Regatta” and “Icicle Races” were added to the event schedule…and the first rescue boat, “Rescue 1”, was purchased. It was a humble rowboat. Since then, the Club has upgraded to a more sophisticated electric boat. Sometimes these small radio-controlled sailboats get themselves in predicaments and need to be rescued. Construction on the Yacht Club Pavilion that we know today began in 2014 with the dedication taking place in 2015. Member Sailors practice their skills each Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday morning between 9:30 and 11:00AM… with Saturdays being when the Seasonal Regatta Races take place. Even when we are not in an official racing season, we still have “Mock Races” on each of these mornings. They are just as fun as the real thing… except they do not count toward annual point standings.