Meet Some of the Crew Sailing South With the 31st Baja Ha-Ha Fleet
The 31st Baja Ha-Ha is right around the corner, with the fleet setting off just over six weeks from today. It may sound like a good amount of time, but those weeks will pass very quickly, particularly for those getting their boats and themselves ready. Last week we mentioned that the sign-up deadline has been extended, and it seems people are taking advantage of that. The number now stands at 132 registered boats. Are you among them?
In the September issue of Latitude 38 we shared the sailing profiles of half a dozen or so folks who are heading south with the Ha-Ha, and we’re sharing more in the upcoming October issue. But we can’t fit them all into the pages, so here are some of the folks who didn’t make it into the issue — it was nothing personal; their profile photos were too small (or they hadn’t sent one) for print. So, here’s another bunch of sailors who right now are possibly up to their armpits in engine grease, bottom paint, sail tape, or some other boat stuff.
Mike Jones, Owl Harbor/Isleton — Tayana 48, Vision
Mike, 72, is a retired land surveyor. He’ll be sailing south with friend Dolf Karsemeijer, 66.
“I’ve been boating most of my life,” says Mike, “but didn’t start sailing until 11 years ago. Vision is my second sailboat, which I bought in April 2022.”
Mike’s crew Dolf is from the Netherlands, a sailing-mad country if there ever was one. “I’m 66 years old, divorced, have two fantastic sons and girlfriends, and one lovely 8-month-old grandson. I also have more than 20 years’ sailing experience, including solo, on my boats of 23 to 30 feet in Holland and Croatia.” Mike and Dolf met via Facebook, and Mike soon asked Dolf to join him on the Ha-Ha. After the Ha-Ha the pair plan to cruise the west coast of Mexico until early spring.
Kevin and Terry Johnson, Vancouver, BC/Nanoose Bay, BC — Jeanneau SO 49, Occasio
Kevin, 68, is a retired business CEO, while Terry is a retired equine insurance broker. (The Poobah bets she has some stories.) Their crew will be Murray and Georgie Syawse.
“We have been sailing since 2009, and have owned a Cal 29, a Beneteau 393, and our current boat, a Jeanneau 49. We have owned Occasio for just over two years, during which we have done a major refit, including standing rigging, electronics, batteries, solar and sails.
“This will be our first Ha-Ha, but in the past two years we have circumnavigated Vancouver Island, a trip of 1,000 miles, and have just completed a voyage from Vancouver to Haida Gwaii and back.” (Haida Gwaii is the name given to what used to be called the Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of British Columbia.)
“We plan to cruise the Sea of Cortez for a couple of seasons, then who knows? Our dream destination is always the next one. At the end of the day, Terry and I just want to look back and say, ‘We did that’ rather than ‘We wish we’d done that.'”
Dave Bliss, Marina del Rey — FP 47 Power Cat, Nauti Miss
Dave, 60, is a pediatric surgeon who lived in Mexico as a child and is fluent in Spanish. His crew will be friends Derek Daw, 61, an electrical engineer; and Bruce Johnson, 60, from Wasaga Beach, Ontario.
Dave grew up on or near the ocean and has owned and operated a variety of boats since childhood. Most recently he fell in love with catamarans. “And I’m the one friend crazy enough to buy the boat.”
He describes his crew Derek as a “talented electrical engineer who can fix anything.” He and Dave have been friends since high school. Bruce Johnson is an inveterate traveler who has ridden bicycles and motorcycles from the Arctic Circle to the tip of South America. Not just once, not just twice, but three times!
Dave’s dream boat would be a sustainable all-electric bluewater catamaran, similar to a Sunreef Eco 60. His dream destination is the South Pacific.
Well, we’ve given you a little insight into three more Ha-Ha crews. Can you imagine how much time and space we would need to cover all 132 entries? You can read about more in September’s Latitude 38. You could also sign up and go sailing with the fleet. That’s the best way to meet everyone.