Weather cancellations are for wussies. The hardy men, women and children of the Puget Sound Cruising Club head out for monthly cruises year-round, rain or cold be damned, except in July and August, when its members are (where else?) out cruising. This weekend, PSCC boaters will be rafted up off Bainbridge Island for the club’s annual pumpkin-carving contest and potluck.

What: Annual PSCC Pumpkin Carving Contest

When: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24 and 25. The potluck gets underway about 5:30 p.m.

Where: Port Madison, Bainbridge Island. The potluck and pumpkin judging will be held at the Port Madison Yacht Club building. Judging is provided by the peanut gallery and the carvers usually come up with some creative works, said Ron Bauman, the club’s co-commodore (wife Suzie is the other commodore).

“We have some pretty good artists,” Bauman said. “They’re not just the standard, scary-face jobs. We’ve had everything from political satire to traditional to various and sundry creatures.”

Who: The club’s raft-ups typically draw between 10 and 20 boats, primarily sailboats, and people ranging in age from kids to grandparents. Everyone is welcome, club member or not, and no advance registration is required. 

BOO!: jack-o-lanterns competing in the PSCC's annual contest.

Includes: The pumpkin-carving contest and potluck is the main event; the rest of the weekend will be spent visiting each other’s boats, shooting the breeze, possibly heading ashore for a hike or walk, and partaking in typical rendezvous activities.

“It’s all about eating and drinking and maybe doing a little exploring, depending on the weather,” Bauman said. “It’s very informal, nothing scheduled.”

What to bring: A potluck dish to share and warm clothes. Don’t forget your foulies.

Fun facts: Rafting up means your neighbors get a bird’s-eye view of any mishaps coming or leaving. At their first PSCC raft-up, Bauman and his wife, not accustomed to rafting, became distracted as they went to leave and somehow forgot to pull up their anchor.

“Luckily, the realization came to me before we jerked tight on the anchor,” Bauman said. “The rest of the crowd got a kick out of it.”

For more info: Call Ron or Suzie Bauman at 425.466.8779 or 425.466.2586.

Want your raft-up or other event to be featured on Three Sheets Northwest? Send us an email at tips@threesheetsnw.com with your name, contact information and a brief summary of the event. We’ll feature rendezvous, seminars, parties and other events of interest to boaters.