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May 15, 2017

Ha-Ha Entries Off to an Explosive Start

Lynn Ringseis stands at the helm of Profligate in typical Baja Ha-Ha first-leg conditions. This will be the 21st year the 63-ft catamaran has served as the mothership. Lynn has done close to 10 of them on Profligate, and just recently completed a Pacific Puddle Jump. 

latitude/Richard
©2017Latitude 38 Media, LLC

More than 50 paid boats signed up for this fall’s Baja Ha-Ha in the two hours after registration opened at noon on May 9. As of Monday morning, the total had reached 78 boats for this 24th edition. Between 135 and 180 entries are expected.

The Ha-Ha, of course, is the 750-mile cruiser rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, with R&R stops at Turtle Bay and Bahia Santa Maria. In between there’s lots of great sailing, sea life, adventure on the water and the world-famous ’Nuevo Loco Baseball’ game between the cruisers and the Mexican kids at Turtle Bay.

The first Ha-Ha R&R stop is at Turtle Bay, about 360 miles south of San Diego. It’s home to an improbably beautiful baseball field, where the cruisers take on the Mexican kids in ultra fast-paced baseball action. Almost every boat in the photo is a Ha-Ha boat.

latitude/Richard
©2017Latitude 38 Media, LLC

The term ‘cruiser rally’ means that entries can use their engines whenever they want — except at the starting line — although they will be penalized. While times are kept, the Ha-Ha is not a race. Indeed, about 75% of the boats never turn in their times. Due to the miraculous Ha-Ha handicap system, no boat can finish worse than third in its class.

The event starts with the Halloween Costume Kick-Off Party on Sunday, October 29, with the actual sailing starting at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 30. The event wraps up with the awards ceremony in Cabo San Lucas on Saturday, November 11.

The setting for the annual Beach Party at Turtle Bay is unique. 

latitude/Richard
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC

So far, two boats are tied for the smallest entry. They are #70, SweePea, Steve Fisher and Robin Fisher-Johnson’s Spirit 28 from San Diego, and #53, TrueLove, Michael Carran’s Hunter 28 from Dana Point.

Two entries are tied for the largest sailboats entered. They are #8, Mariposa, Roger Adams and Sandra Peach’s Horstman 55 trimaran from San Diego, and #69, Angantyr, Erik Oistad’s Abeking & Rasmussen 55 from Marina del Rey.

But the biggest entry so far is Sarah and Nathaniel Layton’s Monk 65 motoryacht Liahona from Spunky Puddle, Ohio. Spunky Puddle? Yep, it’s a ghost town in Ohio.

A lot of Ha-Ha vets have signed up again. Patsy Verhoeven will be doing her record 10th Ha-Ha with her La Paz-based Gulfstar 50 Talion, while, if we’re not mistaken, Myron and Marina Eisenzimmer will be doing their ninth with their Swan 44 Mykonos, from San Francisco.

The Ha-Ha is open to boats over 27 feet that were designed, built and have been maintained for open-ocean sailing. There must be at least two crew, and they must have overnight sailing experience. Everyone on the Ha-Ha needs to put safety first, but be looking to have a fun and responsible time.

The Notice of Rally and entry information can be found at www.baja-haha.com

The complete entry list as of this morning: 

  1. Ullman Sails / TBD / Rodrigo Dipp & Chuck Skewes / Puerto Vallarta, MEX
  2. Talion / Gulfstar 50 / Patsy Verhoeven / La Paz, MEX
  3. Baja Fog / Lagoon 440 / John Schulthess & Monique / Santa Rosa
  4. Jacquot Bateau / Irwin 38 / Theresa Lorch / Long Beach
  5. Knotty Boo / Beneteau 49 / Jason & Julie Holloway / San Francisco
  6. Gettin Knotty / Ericson 38-200 / Andrew Davis / Marina del Rey
  7. Volare / Catalina Morgan 440 / Adam & Jessica Heinicke / San Diego
  8. Mykonos / Swan 44 / Myron & Marina Eisenzimmer / San Francisco
  9. Amistad / Hans Christian 38 / John Schulte / San Francisco
  10. Dancy / Kelly Peterson 44 / Nancy & Dwain Lentz / Tempe, AZ
  11. Breezin / Catalina 42 / Michael Ramos / Chico
  12. Day Dream / J/122 / Robert Day / Laguna Beach
  13. Matador / Beneteau Sense 50 / Stephen Meyer / San Diego
  14. Madison3 / Hunter 41 DS / Patrick Madison / San Diego
  15. Blossom / Formosa 41 / Charlie & Sarah Patterson / Emeryville
  16. Caesura / Island Packet 485 / John Appelt & Kristi Ficek / Marina del Rey
  17. Aeolos / Beneteau 44.7 / Greg Price / San Diego
  18. Pure Grace / Hunter 30 / John Santon / Dana Point
  19. Dragonfly / Jeanneau 43 DS / Lennie & Carol Hawkins / Anacortes, WA
  20. Dances with Winds / Catalina 36 / Eric Walker / Oxnard
  21. Cayuse / J/37 / Brent & Jill Peterson / Seattle, WA
  22. Shoofly / Barnett 41 / Thomas & Charity Palmatier / Sausalito
  23. Endeavour / Tatoosh 51 / John Stephens & Tara Travers-Stephens / San Francisco
  24. Seas the Moment / Beneteau 423 / Walt Childson / San Diego
  25. X / Santa Cruz 50 / David Addleman / Puerto Galera, Philippines
  26. Sea Glass / Kelly Peterson 44 / Chris & Amanda July / San Diego
  27. Glory Days / Fraser 51 / Scott & Phyllis Radford / Tacoma, WA
  28. Pillialoha / Beneteau 393 / Ric Villalobos & Maria-Lucia Salazar / Kaneohe, HI
  29. Mobert / Jeanneau 45 / Richard & Devon Thurtle Anderson / Kirkland, WA
  30. Mele Kai / Catalina 42 / Sean & Kate Munding / Alameda
  31. Zoa / Ericson 38 / Kris Rittenhouse / Long Beach
  32. Julia Max / Peterson 45 ketch / George & Sue Stonecliffe / Portland, OR
  33. Windward Passage / Catalina 42 MkII / Mark Anderson & Brian Redman / Gig Harbor, WA
  34. Green Flash / Beneteau Oceanis 351 / Robert Ritner & Joan Chen / Long Beach
  35. Secret Weapon / Islander 36 / Lindsey Allen & Brent Maness / Richmond
  36. Chance / Wauquiez Centurion 42 / Mark & Deb Lowry / Richmond
  37. Mustique / Beneteau First 36.7 / Gary Schmitz / Richmond
  38. Alianza / Catalina 42 / Harper Hatheway / Coronado
  39. Tranquilo / Catalina C445 / Lloyd Clauss / Ensenada, MEX
  40. Echo Juliet / Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 509 / Robert Bavasi / Everett, WA
  41. Meriwether II / Landfall 39 / Mark & Terri Lesage / White Salmon, WA
  42. Feleena / Jeanneau 439 / Jim Barber / Los Angeles
  43. Katannu / Hallberg-Rassy 38 / Robert Williams & Nina Bohlen / Alameda
  44. Stranger II / 41-ft Rhodes Bounty II / Joseph & Theresa Harter / Tucson, AZ
  45. Freyja / Cal 35 MkII / George Scott / San Francisco
  46. White Raven / Cavalier 35 / Rick Antles & Susie Zuelke / Olympia, WA
  47. Avocet / Caliber 40 LRC / Issachar Ohana / Monterey
  48. DDarBay / Catalina 34 / Brad Young / Yuma, AZ
  49. Euphoria / Olson 40 / Lisa & David Smyth / Waikiki, HI
  50. Firefly / Contour 50 / Eric Conrad / Newport Beach
  51. Westy / Beneteau Idylle 10.5 / Jason Haase & April Bottman-Haase / Seattle, WA
  52. True Love / Hunter 28 / Michael Carran / Dana Point
  53. Lanikai / Hunter 38 / Allan & Leanne Emas / Alamitos Bay
  54. Mai Tai / Lagoon 400 / Argan Johnson / Long Beach
  55. Happy Together / Leopard 48 / Randall & Lennie Smith / Delray Beach, FL
  56. Good Rain / Pearson 365 ketch / Robert Moran / Nanaimo, BC
  57. La Meriposa / Hortsman 55 / Roger Adams & Sandra Peach / San Diego
  58. Linda Marie / Beneteau 473 / Ken & Linda Landis / Marina del Rey
  59. Prana / Hunter 35cc / Tom & Marianne Mangold / San Diego
  60. Epifania / Ta Chiao 54 / David & Allison Shuttleworth / San Francisco
  61. Untangled / Spencer 1330 / Philippe Marguet & Carolyn Strauss / Alameda
  62. Liahona / Monk 65 PH / Sarah & Nathaniel Layton / Spunky Puddle, OH
  63. Harizon / Dufour 310 / Eddie Harrison / Chicago, IL
  64. Siduri / Dehler 42 / Guy Cross & John Edson / San Francisco
  65. Soirée / Beneteau 49 / Steve & Connie Hill / Richmond
  66. Fellowship / Valiant 42 / Greg & Kathy Kircher / Ventura
  67. Voyager / Island Packet SP 41 / Dana Armstrong / Oxnard
  68. Angantyr / Abeking & Rasmussen 55 / Erik Oistad / Marina del Rey
  69. SweePea / Spirit 28 / Steven Fisher & Robin Fisher-Johnson / San Diego
  70. Truelove / Sabre 386 / Jill Morris / San Francisco
  71. Sea Witch / Liberty 458 / Jeff & Gail Casher / Marina del Rey
  72. Sanderling II / Hylas 49 / George & Shirley Vallance / Vancouver, BC
  73. Anila / Hylas 54 / David & Satin Brennan / Astoria, OR
  74. Bonzer / Explorer 44 / Michael & Vicki Novak / Ventura
  75. Blackdragon / Catalina 34 / Eric & Karoline Carpentier / Vancouver, BC
  76. Amity / Tayana 47 / John & Janet Bungo / Portland, OR
  77. Macushla / Bristol 35.5 / Evan Marks / Berkeley
  78. Folie a Deux / Jeanneau 42DS / John & George Zuorski / San Francisco

Phaedo3 Trying for Transpacific Record

On Thursday, the MOD70 Phaedo3 left Long Beach to challenge the World Sailing Speed Record Council’s official Transpacific record.

According to the most recent post on Phaedo’s Facebook page, the famed trimaran has been sailing for one day and 18 hours. The transpacific record for the 2,225-mile run between Los Angeles and Diamond Head on Oahu is three days and 18 hours, set by the 105-ft Lending Club 2 in 2015.

Slower than an airplane, but faster than any boat the average mortal has set foot on, Phaedo3 is challenging the three-day, 18-hour Los Angeles-to-Hawaii (or transpacific) record.

© 2017 Team Phaedo

Phaedo3 has been "trucking along at 29 knots," according to their Facebook post. "Onboard for the record attempt are: Lloyd Thornburg, Brian Thompson, Justin Slattery, David Swete, Peter Cumming, Fletcher Kennedy and Henry Bomby."

We have a reporter on the ground in Honolulu who will be updating this story on Wednesday. Best of luck and safe travels to Phaedo3 and her crew.

As we speak, this boat is about 12 hours from Hawaii and in contention for a new record.  

© Team Phaedo

Stranded Paddleboarder Found Safely

On Sunday the Coast Guard found a paddleboarder who had been stranded overnight on the Marin Islands off San Rafael. Jane Butler was reported missing by her son after she failed to return from an evening paddle.

"Coast Guard and local agency crews searched extensively throughout the night and early morning," a USCG press release said. "Coast Guard assets covered 177 cumulative track-miles." 

Early Sunday morning, 60-year old Butler was found paddling back toward San Rafael. She said she spent the night on the "largest of the Marin Islands," which are about a mile from the entrance of San Rafael Creek.

A paddleboarder spent the night on East Marin Island, on the far right, after being stranded by the tide on Saturday night.

© 2017 Google

Butler told the Coast Guard that she’d been stranded by the tide and was unaware that the Coast Guard was looking for her. "The Mission City patrol boat crew said they checked for her with their thermal imager, but she did not give off a heat signature," the press release said. "The officers said her heat signature was likely masked because she was wet and wearing a wet-suit top." 

While undoubtedly cold and tired, Butler was uninjured.  

"The Coast Guard wants to emphasize the importance of checking the tides and weather before going out on the Bay due to the dynamic nature of the elements," said Captain Tony Ceraolo, the commander of Sector San Francisco.

You want exciting racing people can relate to? The Wanderer suggests big boats such as the 180-ft schooner Elena of London, built to a design from 1910, with lots of sails, lots of crew, and endless brightwork. 
In the 2013 Transpac John Sangmeister’s Long Beach-based ORMA 73 trimaran Tritium Lending Club came up just 2.5 hours short of besting the record after at least six collisions with debris in the ocean.
The Atlantic 57 Leopard was found off North Carolina five months after she flipped. © 2017 Cruisers Forum Leopard, the Atlantic 57 catamaran that flipped 400 miles north of the Dominican Republic on the evening of November 15 while on a passage from Annapolis to St.