Baja Ha-Ha XXXII Sets Sail in Three Weeks!

Eighty boats have signed up for the 2026 Baja Ha-Ha, the 32nd fleet in a long line of successful annual cruisers’ rallies. The honor of being number 80, and the last boat to squeak in before the registration deadline, is Bar Hopper, a Nautitech 44 Open sailed by Mark Mocco and Heidi Olson, who list their homeport as Florida. Mark and Heidi join an illustrious fleet of Ha-Ha veterans and first-timers who will be heading south on November 2.

In the lead-up to this year’s Ha-Ha, assistant Poobah Patsy Verhoeven has sent out an update that includes some rather important information. So if you’re one of those people who tend to skim over emails, don’t get caught with your … sails down. Check out the following details and “TIPS.” (By the way, it’s not just Ha-Ha crews that can benefit from this information; some of it is useful to anyone sailing to Mexico.)

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BAJA HA-HA DIVISIONS: The Poobah has created provisional divisions for Ha-Ha XXXII. Please check the attached PDF to see if you think you are in the right division. For example, did you sign up as a non-spinnaker boat and have since acquired a spinnaker, and therefore no longer belong in one of the “white sails” divisions? If so, we need to know about it. The same if your boat seems to be radically different from the other boats in your division. Not everybody will be thrilled with the division they are in, but we are doing the best we can with a very diverse fleet.

THE SPECIAL HA-HA ANCHORAGE AT GLORIETTA BAY OPENS IN ONE WEEK: This is a cool little place, more or less under the Coronado Bridge. For the exact location, go to the Ha-Ha website and click on the blue San Diego Slips and Anchorages bar. There is no need to sign up with the port to use this anchorage, but you must fly your burgee. There is a nearby short-term dinghy dock and a park for kids and dogs.

WAIVERS: Currently, 300 people are expected to participate. Alas, only 150 of you and your crew have signed waivers. Do this ASAP, please. It’s simple. Go to www.baja-haha.com. Then go to the blue box on the left that says Owner/Skipper Waiver or Crew Waiver. One week before the start, Patsy will email you with a list of waivers on file for your boat. That gives you time to track down any stragglers. This is ultra-important. If you show up at the Skipper’s Check-In and Meeting on the morning of November 1 and you or any of your crew haven’t signed waivers, you will not be an official entry — until you do. That means no swag bag full of goodies or free lunches for you. So please, it’s so easy to do.

DROPOUTS: The Rally Committee has heard from a few boats that will not be able to make this year’s start. If you will not be starting with the fleet on November 2, please email [email protected] as soon as possible, as it affects our preparations for this event. If you can’t make the start, you can pick up your swag bag and tickets at the Costume Kick-Off Party on November 1, and enjoy a Last Cheeseburger while meeting this year’s group.

STARLINK OCEAN MODE DATA: PredictWind came up with a switch for its DataHub that blocks selected apps, streaming, backups and updates from using Starlink data while keeping forecasts and critical apps online. One switch covers all devices on the boat. Pretty important with the new $6-per-gig Ocean Mode pricing! https://www.predictwind.com/datahub/family

SLIPS IN SAN DIEGO: Or how about a mooring? The San Diego Mooring Company has a few of their coveted inexpensive moorings available. Contact them at (619) 291-0916 or [email protected]. We have also heard there are a few slips available at the Kona Kai Marina, (619) 224-7547 or [email protected]. The transient rate for boats under 45-ft is $200/day. The rate for boats over 45-ft is $5/foot per day.

SIGN UP FOR PREDICTWIND FLEET TRACKING: If you go to the Ha-Ha website and click on the PredictWind Fleet Tracking Map, you can see the current location of 14 of this year’s entries. It’s free, so email [email protected] to get set up. No doubt there will be more each day.

BASEBALL: Here’s an idea: Stop by a resale sporting goods store and buy a mitt. Play in the famous Turtle Bay Kids & Cruisers Bazeball Game, then toss the mitt into the pile of donated gear when you’re done. The kids love everything from socks and helmets to mitts, catcher’s gear, bats and balls. This year, we’re adding soccer gear, too, to go with their new soccer field!

GET YOUR TEMPORARY IMPORT PERMIT (TIP): Everyone seems to be having problems with the new TIP system — including some pretty high-tech software-developer types! It appears the system was rolled out before all the bugs were worked out. If you simply cannot get the TIP website to work, you have four options:
1) Get your TIP at a Mexican consulate. Quite a few people have successfully gotten their TIP in person at a Banjercito located inside a Mexican consulate, often without making an appointment. You just pay the regular TIP fee — there’s no additional charge — and it reportedly takes only a few minutes. However, not every consulate has a Banjercito. The consulates offering this service are in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Sacramento, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Denver and Chicago.
2) Get a TIP across the border in San Diego. When you get to San Diego, you can go to Otay Mesa — just outside San Diego, not Tijuana — and get your TIP at the Banjercito just across the border there.
3) Hire someone to do it for you. This is, unfortunately, ridiculously expensive. There are several agents offering the service, including two bilingual agents who can issue TIPs remotely: Michelle Aguilar, BC Connection: +1 (619) 305-9385 and Yolanda Espinoza, Eco Naviera: +52 (612) 348-8787.
4) Start the Ha-Ha from Ensenada. Get a slip in Ensenada and the Marina will help you check into the country and help you get your TIP for free.
Hopefully the website will be sorted out soon, but it is unlikely to be in time for the Ha-Ha fleet. And don’t think you can sail into Mexico without a TIP. These aren’t the old days.

CHECKING INTO MEXICO: If you have decided to check into Mexico at Bahia Santa Maria it’s important that you connect with Mag Bay Outfitters as soon as possible so they can open a file for your boat. In addition, send them as many of the required documents as you can, as soon as you can, to avoid a last-minute paperwork logjam.
Don’t wait — there’s a $50 penalty if at least some forms and payment aren’t in by October 17.

Please be courteous, as the Mag Bay folks are sport fishermen and not paperwork people. And if it weren’t for them, there would be no Ha-Ha.

And please remember to support our sponsors!