A select team of Camana Bay Aquatic Club (CBAC) swimmers travelled to South Florida earlier this month to train with the South Florida Aquatic Club (SOFL) Comets swim team and compete in the Coral Springs Open Invitational Meet, which took place 3-5 February 2012.

SOFL is a year-round competitive swim team and a member of USA Swimming, the Olympic development programme for competitive swimming. With more than 450 members and a host of world-class facilities, including two 50-metre Olympic-size pools and three 25-metre and 25-yard pools, this was a unique opportunity for thirteen young CBAC swimmers to train with one of the leading competitive aquatic programmes in the United States. “An opportunity like this not only allows our swimmers to meet other competitive swimmers of similar ages and make new friendships – but it also gives them invaluable training time in a 50-metre pool,” explained CBAC Head Coach Katie Lambert.

The two-day meet gave the swimmers a further taste of competitive swimming at a top-level international meet in the Coral Springs Aquatic Centre’s Olympic-size pool. The weekend saw all swimmers make significant strides towards their individual goals. “This was a great opportunity for our CARIFTA hopefuls to race in a 50-metre pool and to achieve their times to make the team,” said Coach Katie. This included Eddie Weber, 11, who swam six personal best times. “Eddie has been training very hard and is working towards trying to make the 2012 CARIFTA team. This was a big step for him and he is that much closer to reaching his goals,” she added.

Another event highlight saw one of CBAC’s youngest Novice A swimmers, Emily Link, 9, take an average of six seconds off her personal best times. Both Skyler O’Connor, 10, and Isabella Tognazzo, 13, set personal bests in the 50-metre Freestyle; Skyler knocked four seconds off her time, setting a new personal best of 39.04 seconds.

Coach Katie was pleased with her swimmers’ quick adjustment to racing in a long course pool. “I am very proud of all our swimmers. The Coral Springs meet was a great example of the success of CBAC’s swim programme and the advantages of attending international meets,” she said. “This was also a chance for CBAC to make contacts on the international swim scene and hopefully bring more swimmers to the Cayman Islands.”

The Club is now focused on training for CBAC’s first open water swim series, which begins on Saturday 18 February. Taking place over the course of six weeks, the three-part series is open to the public and is a great way for everyone in the local community to learn a vital life skill, enjoy a great workout, get wet and have fun.

The Camana Bay Aquatic Club provides a positive environment for young swimmers to hone their skills and achieve their goals. “Being involved with a swim team teaches swimmers the values of teamwork and individual goal setting,” said Coach Katie, “And you’re learning a life skill. Swimming is a sport for people of all ages, and we hope that swimmers fall in love with it and swim for life.”

Based at the Camana Bay Sports Complex, CBAC is one of two swim clubs on island; Stingray Swim Club is headquartered at the Lions Aquatic Centre. Both Clubs are governed by the Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA). The CARIFTA Swimming Championships will take place in Cable Beach Nassau, Bahamas from 12-15 April 2012. The Cayman Islands team for this Olympic-qualifying meet will be selected and announced on Monday 5 March.