When the Cape Coral Yacht & Racquet Club opened in 1962, one of the perks was Cape property owners received a free three-year membership to the club.

That membership entitled residents to the clubhouse facilities, plus the game and dining rooms. “Many families spend small fortunes to attain similar Club benefits,” Gulf American Land Corporation President Leonard Rosen wrote in a letter welcoming new members. “Yet, as a Cape Coral homesite owner, you and your family can now enjoy all the wonderful facilities of our Club – without payment of membership fees or dues for three full years.”

On the membership letter and official invitation to the Yacht Club opening was a cleverly designed insignia, which included the obvious club touches — the sun, an anchor, tennis racquet, captain’s cap, waves and something unusual — a pair of seahorses.

It turns out the ancient Greeks saw the seahorses as guides and protectors of sailors. The seahorses were common symbols on many yacht club logos across the world. The Greeks connected the seahorse to the god Poseidon, the Romans to the god Neptune.

Sailors also saw the seahorse as a symbol of good luck, especially if they were facing rough seas or large storms.

The seahorse is an all-inclusive symbol for many. They also are tied to peace and friendliness and show the way to improve relationships.

During those early years, the Yacht Club also used another logo that dropped the seahorses but featured the anchor and tennis racquet on the sail of a boat.