THE POOBAH IS CONTINUING TO ACCEPT ENTRIES IN THE LAST BAJA HA-HA, BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
'MEET THE FLEET' BOOKLET, AND BE SURE THAT YOU GET
A FULL BAG OF SWAG, THE HA-HA MUST RECEIVE
YOUR ENTRY BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
After that date we can no longer make additions or changes to Meet the Fleet program.
The Last Cheeseburger in Paradise / Ha-Ha Costume Kick-off Party is November 2. The fleet departs San Diego on November 3.
Still undecided about doing the Ha-Ha? Here are a couple of photos that might whet your appetite.
The Ha-Ha started in 1994 with the Poobah's Ocean 71 Big O leading the fleet out of San Diego. It was so windy — ha, ha, ha — that the America's Cup Trials were postponed.
Big O continued on through the Canal, across the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Med to Turkey, and back. Unfortunately, she burned in a boat shed in Vancouver a few years ago.
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The entrance to Turtle Bay is wider than the entrance to San Francisco Bay, but you still need to pay attention, as proven by one boat that went on the rocks coming in.
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One of the cool things about the Ha-Ha is that there is so much expertise and parts in the Ha-Ha fleet. One year we found ourselves in Turtle Bay missing two critical parts to our main winches. Don't ask. So Brian Downing fabricated replacements with his onboard 3D printer. We still use them today. The orange is a nice contrast to the black winches.
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If you're doing the Ha-Ha do not forget baseball gear.
After the world-famous Cruisers and Kids high- speed Bazeball game we leave numerous thousands of dollars of gear behind. We let young girls pick first.
A year ago the first girl chose a pair of socks! You gotta love the kids.
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While there will be close to 500 people in the Ha-Ha, it's easy to find solitude during the entire trip. Walking the miles long beach at Turtle Bay is just one example.
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This is the beach party site at Turtle Bay. Is it uniquely fabulous or what?
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Another place to get away are the hills protecting the anchorage at Bahia Santa Maria.
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'What is something I said?' Halfway between Turtle Bay and Bahia Santa Maria one crewmember decided to jump ship. This is not recommended.
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Over 3,000 boats have done the Ha-Ha. Only one was sunk by a whale. Thanks to the skill and preparation of Capt. Eugenie Russell and the U.S. Coast Guard, everyone was rescued.
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Is there surf on the Ha-Ha? Some years yes, some years, no.
This is the point at Bahia Santa Maria. Cowabunga!
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This is the traditional Ha-Ha warm-water baptism for crossing the Tropic of Taurus,
formerly known as the Tropic of Cancer.
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It may not be lush, but Bahia Santa Maria has its own kind of special beauty.
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This mahi was landed in 2012. The good news is that there are still plenty more.
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Some people like to anchor a little too close to the beach, like Mark did at Turtle Bay.
Fifty volunteers couldn't push her off, but the tide later lifted her off. No damage.
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The Bazeball game in Turtle Bay is like nothing you've seen before.
Women and children are always 'safe!'
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What the Turtle Bay field looked like before.
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What it looks like today. Those are all Ha-Ha boats in the background.
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The fuel dock at Turtle Bay.
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Looking to make new cruising friends?
This was the Ha-Ha group a few years ago at Turtle Bay.
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The Ha-Ha party site at Bahia Santa Maria is on the bluff on the left. The view is surreal.
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The entrance to the beach party site at BSM can be tricky. Going in by panga is recommended.
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What are the typical sailing conditions in the Ha-Ha? Winds less than 20 knots from the northwest moving to the north late at night. Many boats go wing-on-wing with white sails.
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Within reason, Chuck Skewes of Ullman Sails in San Diego and Seattle
offers free sail repairs. One time he repaired 39 sails.
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Kids love the Diving Olympics off the back of Profligate.
Who knew they liked the post competition candy even more?
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The dance party at Squid Roe in Cabo is a chance for everyone to celebrate
having cheated death once again.
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The Ha-Ha beach party site in Cabo overlooks the anchored fleet. The view is incredible.
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Is there enough room for everyone to anchor at Bahia Santa Maria?
Yes, as this photo only depicts 1/50th of the anchorage.
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Cabo San Lucas is a charming little fishing village. At least it was in 1975.
Now the smart money is to move on as quickly as possible to the anchorages
on the way to La Paz, or to Mazatlan, or to Vallarta. So many choices.
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