Already 31 Entries for the 22nd Baja Ha-Ha

More than 30 skippers have signed up for the 22nd annual Baja Ha-Ha since registration opened last Friday. The Ha-Ha is the 750-mile cruising rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, with stops at funky Turtle Bay and magnificently beautiful Bahia Santa Maria. The event starts on October 25 and ends on November 7.

Why sign up early? Because the earlier a boat signs up, the higher she is on the list to get a slip in Cabo San Lucas. Getting a slip may not seem like a big deal now, but on November 7, after you’ve been at sea or on the hook for eight or nine days, it’s often a different story.

Over 10,000 sailors have done the Ha-Ha in its first 21 years, and another 500 are expected this year.

We like to think that repeat entries are the best endorsement for the Ha-Ha, and the first three entries are all repeats. John and Debbie Rogers of the San Diego-based Deerfoot 62 Moonshadow — who stay fit in part by cleaning the bottom of their big boat — did last year’s Ha-Ha. Entry #2 is Mykonos, Myron and Marina Eisenzimmer’s Swan 44 from San Anselmo. This must be their seventh Ha-Ha. In third position is Tamara Lee Ann, Doug and Tamara Thorne’s Emery Cove-based Celestial 48, which will be doing her third Ha-Ha. Welcome back.

To get all the details on the Ha-Ha, visit the website. In order to qualify, boats must be between 27 and 125 feet in length, and need to have been designed, built and maintained for rigorous offshore sailing, and must be able to maintain an average speed of at least 4.5 knots under sail and/or engine. The minimum number of crew is two, at least one of whom has overnight offshore experience. All participants must be in good physical condition and seeking adventure. Doing the Ha-Ha is the opposite of going on a cruise ship, so if you’re looking for luxury and are prone to whining, the Ha-Ha is absolutely not for you.

There will be a Mexico-Only Crew List Party and Baja Ha-Ha Reunion at Alameda’s Encinal YC September 2, 6-9 p.m. (Sign up for the Crew List for free here.) The party will be preceded by a Mexican Cruising Seminar, hosted by sponsors, from 4-6 p.m.

The deadline for signing up for the Ha-Ha is September 15. But as we mentioned before, if you wait until the end, plan on anchoring out.

Moonshadow / Deerfoot 2-62 / John and Deb Rogers / San Diego
Mykonos / Swan 44 / Myron & Marina Eisenzimmer / San Francisco
Tamara Lee Ann / Celestial 48 / Doug & Tamara Thorne / Emery Cove
Northern Lights / J/42 / Roderic & Mary Deyo / Seattle, WA
Windstar / Liberty 49 / Stephen & Bente Millard / Santa Barbara
Scarlet Fever / Jeanneau 509 Sun Odyssey / Paul Hofer / Wilmington, DE
Lokomaikai / Catalina 320 / Ron & Gail Hodel / Dana Point
Matador / Beneteau 50 / Stephen Meyer / San Diego
Elixir II / Islander 40 / Frank Nin & Leslie Honey / Brookings, OR
Millie J / Brewer Custom Cutter 34.8 / James Atkins & Amy Arroyo / Vancouver, WA
Tandem / Pearson 365 Ketch / Steve & Joni Stein / Emeryville
Kiki / Hunter 466 / Roger & Karen Lamb / Alameda
Ahelani / Outbound 46 / Steve & Patricia Stanley San Francisco
Tahitian Dream / Amel Maramu 46 / William & Janet Fletcher / Richmond
Gratitude / Hylas 46 / Martin Eggenberger & Nina Lesowitz / Oakland
Dancy / Kelly Peterson 44 / Dwain & Nancy Lentz / Tempe, AZ
Nakamal / Island Packet 380 John Ryan & Elinore Craig / Tucson, AZ
Pablo / Westsail 32 Steve & Sherri Brenner / Santa Cruz
Vitesse / Beneteau 473 Tom Price / San Francisco
TBD / TBD / Chris Maher / Seattle/Alameda
Carmanah / C&C 43 / John & Donna DeMeyer / Bainbridge Island, WA
Gettin Knotty / Ericson 38-200 / Andrew Davis / Marina Del Rey
Callisti / Waterline 50 / Roland & Rebecca / Thiel Vancouver, BC
Del Viento / Colvin Tamarack / Schooner 34 / Mark & Susan Hall Stockton
Second Wind / Gemini 105Mc / Dennis Randall / San Diego
Tranquilo / Catalina/C445 / Lloyd & Colleen Clauss / Ensenada
Yankee / Pearson 365 / Rod & Flori Soder / Moss Landing
Sojourn / Catalina 385 / John Van Vessem / Vallejo
C’est Si Bon / Beneteau 46 / Perry Chrisler / Scottsdale, AZ
Huzzah / Jeanneau 45.2 / Gerry & Jody Gilbert / Gig Harbor, WA