Baja Ha-Ha — A Crazy Ruckus or Supportive Cruising Fleet?

As the Baja Ha-Ha “Newbah” Chuck Skewes settles into his role as the new Grand Poobah, he reflects on his first and subsequent thoughts about what the Ha-Ha means to sailors.

When I first heard of the Baja Ha-Ha, I was not really sure what it was. Shortly afterward, I started racing sailboats down the coast to Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and other destinations. It wasn’t until 2013 that I decided to do the Baja Ha-Ha.

Prior to joining, I’d thought it was mostly a party and a crazy ruckus heading down the coast, leaving a trail of turmoil in its wake among the small communities that lie on the Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula. I had even heard of other people who thought the same. Some were purposely traveling on either end of the Baja Ha-Ha so they would not be caught up in it.

In 2013, a couple of my friends, who had just bought a 48-ft sailboat and were planning on sailing until they decided they were tired of it, wanted to do the Baja Ha-Ha and asked if I would like to join them for that part. They wanted more experienced hands on board until they felt confident in traveling with just the two of them.

I worked until an hour before we left the dock, still not getting involved and seeing how the rally unfolded. We left under drizzle and a light southerly breeze, heading for Turtle Bay. The couple I was sailing with wanted to sail the entire way if possible. The wind picked up from the north the next day and we arrived in Turtle Bay a day later. This is when I realized why the event was so popular, and its value to anyone sailing south.

The first morning after being in Turtle Bay, we turned on the radio to listen to the “Net” hosted by Richard Spindler. We tuned into the Net on the SSB each morning while underway, for roll call. Participants gave their location; some sailors reported hazards (i.e. fishing nets, whales, etc.). But when we were in port, the Net showed the true spirit of the event.

The Net started with asking if there were any medical emergencies, and then, if anyone had a mechanical problem that would make it impossible or difficult to continue. Several people came on with charging issues, overheating, torn sails, instrument issues and the like. As people brought up their problems, others responded with ways to help. These people would then move to a different channel to work on their issues together. There was almost a 100% success rate in handling the issues.

Continue reading.