THE HA-HA WEATHER FORECAST LOOKS EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD
Up until the November 3 start in San Diego, the forecast calls for glorious conditions. Even dreamlike.
Of course forecasts are just forecasts and not guarantees, but as the Poobah, I'm pretty sure we won't have any rain, sleet, snow, hail, gale-force winds, or hellfire.
Forecasts along the Baja coast after November 3 aren't something anyone can count on, but the current long-range forecast is for lots of 10 to 12 knots from the northwest. Assuming everyone has a good light air downwind configuration and remembers to bring gallons of suntan lotion, it looks very pleasant. But once again, a forecast is a mere forecast, especially long-range ones.
The odds are that hurricane season is over, and almost surely for northern Mexico. And the odds improve with each passing day, as the days are shorter and air and water temperatures drop.
Speaking as the Poobah, I'm jacked up for the Ha-Ha. Despite Profligate suffering tremendous electronic damage from lightning less than three weeks ago in La Cruz, we got 90% of it fixed in time for our most trouble-free 1,000-mile Bash in memory. It was miraculous.
Let me tell you what the Ha-Ha has meant to me. Yesterday I was riding my bike past the San Diego Airport, and I heard my name called out. It's Jim and Kent Milski who have done many Ha-Ha's in addition to doing a circumnavigation with the 49-ft. catamaran they built. Such dear friends.
A couple of hours later I'm getting ready to get a bite in the Brigantine when I'm approached by a guy. “You won't remember me,” he said, “but I'm Sam Peterson, and my wife Sally and I did the 2004 Ha-Ha with our Downeast 32, Moana. We had such a wonderful time we continued on across the Pacific. And 20 years later we still liveaboard here in San Diego. My wife wouldn't have it any way.”
I get recognized in Costco, at Home Depot, and walking down the street. It's so bad that I can't do any bad stuff without getting caught. So there is a downside.
But it's been my honor, and that of Doña and Patsy, to have met more than 10,000 Ha-Ha folks over the years, and we're eager to meet more again this year.
Hope you're going to make it.
The weather forecast is promising.
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Having completed something like her 24th Baja Bash,
Dona celebrates by taking a dog for a walk. And we don't even own a dog.
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One of the highlights of the Ha-Ha is the Bazeball Game, totally unlike any baseball
you've seen before. It's fast-paced rather than boring, and women and
children are always safe. Please remember to bring as much baseball
gear as you can because we leave it behind for all the Turtle Bay kids.
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The magical anchorage at Bahia Santa Maria. Victor and his crew are already
putting the beer on ice and the band from La Paz is tuning their instruments.
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