Ha-Ha Entries Off to an Explosive Start
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More than 50 paid boats signed up for this fall’s Baja Ha-Ha in the two hours after registration opened at noon on May 9. As of Monday morning, the total had reached 78 boats for this 24th edition. Between 135 and 180 entries are expected.
The Ha-Ha, of course, is the 750-mile cruiser rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, with R&R stops at Turtle Bay and Bahia Santa Maria. In between there’s lots of great sailing, sea life, adventure on the water and the world-famous ’Nuevo Loco Baseball’ game between the cruisers and the Mexican kids at Turtle Bay.
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The term ‘cruiser rally’ means that entries can use their engines whenever they want — except at the starting line — although they will be penalized. While times are kept, the Ha-Ha is not a race. Indeed, about 75% of the boats never turn in their times. Due to the miraculous Ha-Ha handicap system, no boat can finish worse than third in its class.
The event starts with the Halloween Costume Kick-Off Party on Sunday, October 29, with the actual sailing starting at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 30. The event wraps up with the awards ceremony in Cabo San Lucas on Saturday, November 11.
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So far, two boats are tied for the smallest entry. They are #70, SweePea, Steve Fisher and Robin Fisher-Johnson’s Spirit 28 from San Diego, and #53, TrueLove, Michael Carran’s Hunter 28 from Dana Point.
Two entries are tied for the largest sailboats entered. They are #8, Mariposa, Roger Adams and Sandra Peach’s Horstman 55 trimaran from San Diego, and #69, Angantyr, Erik Oistad’s Abeking & Rasmussen 55 from Marina del Rey.
But the biggest entry so far is Sarah and Nathaniel Layton’s Monk 65 motoryacht Liahona from Spunky Puddle, Ohio. Spunky Puddle? Yep, it’s a ghost town in Ohio.
A lot of Ha-Ha vets have signed up again. Patsy Verhoeven will be doing her record 10th Ha-Ha with her La Paz-based Gulfstar 50 Talion, while, if we’re not mistaken, Myron and Marina Eisenzimmer will be doing their ninth with their Swan 44 Mykonos, from San Francisco.
The Ha-Ha is open to boats over 27 feet that were designed, built and have been maintained for open-ocean sailing. There must be at least two crew, and they must have overnight sailing experience. Everyone on the Ha-Ha needs to put safety first, but be looking to have a fun and responsible time.
The Notice of Rally and entry information can be found at www.baja-haha.com.
The complete entry list as of this morning:
- Ullman Sails / TBD / Rodrigo Dipp & Chuck Skewes / Puerto Vallarta, MEX
- Talion / Gulfstar 50 / Patsy Verhoeven / La Paz, MEX
- Baja Fog / Lagoon 440 / John Schulthess & Monique / Santa Rosa
- Jacquot Bateau / Irwin 38 / Theresa Lorch / Long Beach
- Knotty Boo / Beneteau 49 / Jason & Julie Holloway / San Francisco
- Gettin Knotty / Ericson 38-200 / Andrew Davis / Marina del Rey
- Volare / Catalina Morgan 440 / Adam & Jessica Heinicke / San Diego
- Mykonos / Swan 44 / Myron & Marina Eisenzimmer / San Francisco
- Amistad / Hans Christian 38 / John Schulte / San Francisco
- Dancy / Kelly Peterson 44 / Nancy & Dwain Lentz / Tempe, AZ
- Breezin / Catalina 42 / Michael Ramos / Chico
- Day Dream / J/122 / Robert Day / Laguna Beach
- Matador / Beneteau Sense 50 / Stephen Meyer / San Diego
- Madison3 / Hunter 41 DS / Patrick Madison / San Diego
- Blossom / Formosa 41 / Charlie & Sarah Patterson / Emeryville
- Caesura / Island Packet 485 / John Appelt & Kristi Ficek / Marina del Rey
- Aeolos / Beneteau 44.7 / Greg Price / San Diego
- Pure Grace / Hunter 30 / John Santon / Dana Point
- Dragonfly / Jeanneau 43 DS / Lennie & Carol Hawkins / Anacortes, WA
- Dances with Winds / Catalina 36 / Eric Walker / Oxnard
- Cayuse / J/37 / Brent & Jill Peterson / Seattle, WA
- Shoofly / Barnett 41 / Thomas & Charity Palmatier / Sausalito
- Endeavour / Tatoosh 51 / John Stephens & Tara Travers-Stephens / San Francisco
- Seas the Moment / Beneteau 423 / Walt Childson / San Diego
- X / Santa Cruz 50 / David Addleman / Puerto Galera, Philippines
- Sea Glass / Kelly Peterson 44 / Chris & Amanda July / San Diego
- Glory Days / Fraser 51 / Scott & Phyllis Radford / Tacoma, WA
- Pillialoha / Beneteau 393 / Ric Villalobos & Maria-Lucia Salazar / Kaneohe, HI
- Mobert / Jeanneau 45 / Richard & Devon Thurtle Anderson / Kirkland, WA
- Mele Kai / Catalina 42 / Sean & Kate Munding / Alameda
- Zoa / Ericson 38 / Kris Rittenhouse / Long Beach
- Julia Max / Peterson 45 ketch / George & Sue Stonecliffe / Portland, OR
- Windward Passage / Catalina 42 MkII / Mark Anderson & Brian Redman / Gig Harbor, WA
- Green Flash / Beneteau Oceanis 351 / Robert Ritner & Joan Chen / Long Beach
- Secret Weapon / Islander 36 / Lindsey Allen & Brent Maness / Richmond
- Chance / Wauquiez Centurion 42 / Mark & Deb Lowry / Richmond
- Mustique / Beneteau First 36.7 / Gary Schmitz / Richmond
- Alianza / Catalina 42 / Harper Hatheway / Coronado
- Tranquilo / Catalina C445 / Lloyd Clauss / Ensenada, MEX
- Echo Juliet / Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 509 / Robert Bavasi / Everett, WA
- Meriwether II / Landfall 39 / Mark & Terri Lesage / White Salmon, WA
- Feleena / Jeanneau 439 / Jim Barber / Los Angeles
- Katannu / Hallberg-Rassy 38 / Robert Williams & Nina Bohlen / Alameda
- Stranger II / 41-ft Rhodes Bounty II / Joseph & Theresa Harter / Tucson, AZ
- Freyja / Cal 35 MkII / George Scott / San Francisco
- White Raven / Cavalier 35 / Rick Antles & Susie Zuelke / Olympia, WA
- Avocet / Caliber 40 LRC / Issachar Ohana / Monterey
- DDarBay / Catalina 34 / Brad Young / Yuma, AZ
- Euphoria / Olson 40 / Lisa & David Smyth / Waikiki, HI
- Firefly / Contour 50 / Eric Conrad / Newport Beach
- Westy / Beneteau Idylle 10.5 / Jason Haase & April Bottman-Haase / Seattle, WA
- True Love / Hunter 28 / Michael Carran / Dana Point
- Lanikai / Hunter 38 / Allan & Leanne Emas / Alamitos Bay
- Mai Tai / Lagoon 400 / Argan Johnson / Long Beach
- Happy Together / Leopard 48 / Randall & Lennie Smith / Delray Beach, FL
- Good Rain / Pearson 365 ketch / Robert Moran / Nanaimo, BC
- La Meriposa / Hortsman 55 / Roger Adams & Sandra Peach / San Diego
- Linda Marie / Beneteau 473 / Ken & Linda Landis / Marina del Rey
- Prana / Hunter 35cc / Tom & Marianne Mangold / San Diego
- Epifania / Ta Chiao 54 / David & Allison Shuttleworth / San Francisco
- Untangled / Spencer 1330 / Philippe Marguet & Carolyn Strauss / Alameda
- Liahona / Monk 65 PH / Sarah & Nathaniel Layton / Spunky Puddle, OH
- Harizon / Dufour 310 / Eddie Harrison / Chicago, IL
- Siduri / Dehler 42 / Guy Cross & John Edson / San Francisco
- Soirée / Beneteau 49 / Steve & Connie Hill / Richmond
- Fellowship / Valiant 42 / Greg & Kathy Kircher / Ventura
- Voyager / Island Packet SP 41 / Dana Armstrong / Oxnard
- Angantyr / Abeking & Rasmussen 55 / Erik Oistad / Marina del Rey
- SweePea / Spirit 28 / Steven Fisher & Robin Fisher-Johnson / San Diego
- Truelove / Sabre 386 / Jill Morris / San Francisco
- Sea Witch / Liberty 458 / Jeff & Gail Casher / Marina del Rey
- Sanderling II / Hylas 49 / George & Shirley Vallance / Vancouver, BC
- Anila / Hylas 54 / David & Satin Brennan / Astoria, OR
- Bonzer / Explorer 44 / Michael & Vicki Novak / Ventura
- Blackdragon / Catalina 34 / Eric & Karoline Carpentier / Vancouver, BC
- Amity / Tayana 47 / John & Janet Bungo / Portland, OR
- Macushla / Bristol 35.5 / Evan Marks / Berkeley
- Folie a Deux / Jeanneau 42DS / John & George Zuorski / San Francisco