Mexican Navy Tall Ship ‘Cuauhtémoc’ to Spend Four Days in San Francisco
Mexico’s navy sail-training vessel Cuauhtémoc is expected to visit San Francisco next month, spending four days welcoming the public at the Embarcadero, Piers 15–17. In May 2025, the 296-ft vessel was departing New York after a goodwill visit when she drifted backward under the Brooklyn Bridge, snapping off all three of her topmasts and killing two crew. After spending several months undergoing repairs and subsequent sea trials at a naval shipyard in New York, Cuauhtémoc returned to her home port in Acapulco, MX. On July 16, more than a year after the accident, the ship and her crew set sail from Acapulco for a three-month “North Pacific” cruise, stopping at Honolulu, HI; Seward, AK; Victoria, Canada; and San Francisco and San Diego, CA.
Cuauhtémoc is carrying 281 passengers — 144 naval cadets (45 women and 99 men) and a crew of 137 (106 men and 31 women) — and is scheduled to sail through the Gate at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, for a four-day goodwill visit.
CEO of Ocean Alliances Alison Healy said of the visit, “The arrival of the Cuauhtémoc will give Bay Area residents a rare opportunity to experience one of Mexico’s most important maritime symbols firsthand. The ship carries a message of peace, goodwill and friendship wherever she sails, and her visit will provide a spectacular sight [in] San Francisco.”
The ship will be open for tours as follows:
• Wednesday, September 23: Noon–5 p.m.
• Thursday, September 24: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Friday, September 25: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Saturday, September 26: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
As the tour began, Mexico News Daily reported that the US National Transportation Safety Board had issued preliminary findings of their investigation into the Cuauhtémoc accident, identifying three issues: a bent rudder; a possible failure of the variable-pitch propeller (part of the ship’s propulsion system); and the fact that local harbor pilots helping maneuver the ship gave commands in English that were translated into Spanish for the ship’s crew.
Known as Mexico’s “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,” the barque-rigged Cuauhtémoc was designed by naval architect Juan José Alonso Verástegui and built in Bilbao, Spain, with her keel being laid in July 1981. She was formally commissioned into the Mexican Navy in Veracruz on September 25, 1982.
Cuauhtémoc will depart San Francisco at 10 a.m. on Sunday, September 27.
Tanton 73 ‘Velos’ Is the New Baja Ha-Ha Mothership
We’ve been waiting to share this news: The 32nd Baja Ha-Ha mothership will be the Tanton 73 Velos. The San Diego-based racing cruiser will head to Cabo after leading the fleet out of San Diego Bay on November 2. Many will recall that the first boat to lead the Ha-Ha fleet was Richard Spindler’s Ocean 71 Big O in 1994.
To date, the 2026 Baja Ha-Ha cruiser’s rally features a diverse fleet of over 50 registered vessels. Highlighted entries range from classic full-keel voyagers to performance cruisers and multihulls, such as Rob and Suzanne Schwager’s Oyster 595 Genevieve, Sandy and Thomas Buus’s Santa Cruz 52 Hula Girl, the X4.9 Loki belonging to W Greg Clark, Dave Shoemaker and Bill Schopp; Tony and Julie Rogers’ Tayana 48 Hokulani, and dozens more!
Along with gearing up the boat, Ha-Ha sailors are a fashion-conscious bunch. You gotta look good out there, right? Take a look at the 2026 Baja Ha-Ha logowear here.
Numerous sailors are looking for crew to join their boat for the Ha-Ha, or are looking for a boat to crew on. Our Latitude 38 Crew List has people from all walks looking to connect. Check it out here.
Plus, many Ha-Ha sailors will be at the Latitude 38 Baja Ha-Ha Fall Crew List Party on September 10, at Spaulding Marine Center in Sausalito.
The perfect combination? Add your name to the Crew List and make connections, then come to the Crew Party and meet in person. See you there!
By the way, Ha-Ha Newbah Chuck Skewes was recently a guest on the Slow Baja podcast, where he shared some of his sailing history. Check it out here.
Come See the Berkeley Waterfront Showcase!
Get Ready for September Sailboat Racing on Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe sailboat racing season is almost over, but this year Tahoe Yacht Club (TYC) is hosting two interesting casual races in September in addition to their annual ILCA Fleet Championship.
Women’s Skipper Race: Wednesday, September 9, 5 p.m.
TYC celebrates women at the helm in this fun keelboat race for female skippers. Sail with any crew combination, women, men or both, and feel free to rotate crew positions during the race, as long as a woman remains at the helm while racing. Invite your crew and enjoy a spirited evening on the water!
Shorthanded race: Wednesday, September 16, 5 p.m.
For singlehanded and doublehanded keelboat skippers, this fun, one-division race is a chance to test your sailing skills with limited crew. Whether you enjoy the challenge of sailing solo or with one trusted teammate, this race emphasizes boat handling, tactics and smart decision-making. If you’re looking for a different kind of racing experience, register today and come join the fun!
TYC ILCA Fleet Championship
Tahoe Yacht Club’s annual ILCA Fleet Championship, which attracts many dinghy sailors from the Bay Area, is coming up the weekend of September 12 and 13. ILCA boats will be launching at Tahoe City’s Lake Forest Boat Ramp, with a BBQ at Tahoe Yacht Club on Saturday after racing. Camping will be available onsite/nearby at the state campground, or competitors can choose one of many accommodation options in Tahoe City. Open to ILCA 4.7s, ILCA 6s and ILCA 7s.
If you would like to participate in any of these races, come on up to Lake Tahoe. Details and registrations can be found here.
Finding a Viper on Anchor Watch
Finding adventure is one reason people go cruising; it’s the surprises that keep it all interesting. James Lane and Dena Hankins had an adventurous morning when they found a five-foot viper had spent the night curled around the bowsprit of their Baba 30 Cetacea while anchored in Puerto Real, Boricua, Puerto Rico. One good rule for sailing is “one hand for you and one hand for the boat,” but this viper looked quite secure with no hands at all. Most cruising wildlife encounters emerge from the depths rather than land or air, but occasionally unusual creatures invite themselves aboard.
In the recent RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race, the crew of the British Army Sailing Association’s Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier was 70 miles off Great Britain when an exhausted barn owl thought that the boat looked like a great place for a rest. After a couple of attempts, it finally landed aboard, and the crew was able to provide it with food, water and rest. They called animal rescue ashore, who were able to send out a rescue boat to bring the barn owl back to land.
More common than these offshore wildlife encounters are the wildlife encounters ashore at places like Squid Roe in Cabo — but those are different stories.
James and Dena were eventually able to encourage the viper to go back where it came from. With the help of a boat hook, they were able to help it unravel itself and swim off while they stood watch until it was well out of sight. James noted it was actually a pretty good swimmer. It was one of the more unusual encounters of their more than 20 years of cruising.
For More Great Sailing Stories, Tune In to Good Jibes
