In 1993, a small group led by Bill Honeycutt decided to lay the groundwork for a club to help those interested in watersports meet each other. The result was the Bay Area Water Ski Club (BAWSC).

Now, 18 years later, the BAWSC is 56 members strong and hopes to expand. Gwen Cauthren, who has been the organization’s membership chair for nearly 10 years, has plans for the club’s growth. Rather than host competitive events, what the BAWSC does is host meet-and-greets where watersports enthusiasts can get together and arrange their own private get-together.

“We’re a group of people trying to promote the networking of people who own boats with the people who don’t; who all have a passion for watersports,” Cauthren said.

The BAWSC runs all year. Meetings are held usually twice a month between June and September; once a month between October and May. Members of all skill levels are encouraged to go to their meet-and-greet events.

“We hold events as formats to get people to socialize,” Cauthren said. “We do camping events, houseboat trips, one-day events, barbecues; we have a Christmas party every year.”

While BAWSC members hail from all across the Bay Area, nearly all the organization’s events are held on the Delta. The most recent event was a camping trip at Vieira’s Resort by Isleton.

While membership comprises mostly those in their late 40s to early 50s, 20-somethings are also represented. The definition of a membership isn’t restricted to a single person. There are plenty of couples and families in the BAWSC. Each of those groups makes up one membership.

According to Cauthren, the BAWSC is split nearly in half between those who own boats and those who participate in water sports but don’t own boats.

“If people like to go out boating, they’re going to need to find people to help them on their boats,” Cauthren added. We want people to spend three to four hours with the owner and hopefully form a friendship, or at least an association so they know they’re comfortable with those folks.”

Prospective members can visit www.bawsc.org or call Cauthren at 707-539-0510.