Ha-Ha Entry Deadline Extended

With the weather having been so wonderful lately, it’s been easy to overlook the fact that it’s just a little over five weeks until the start of the 19th annual 750-mile Baja Ha-Ha Cruiser Rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, with R&R stops at Turtle Bay and Bahia Santa Maria. The biggest sign of the change of season has been that it’s been getting dark earlier — much earlier — meaning winter is coming on. For most folks, the onset of winter is a cause for gloom. For cruisers headed south, it’s a cause for jubilation, as it means tropical sailing, snorkeling and surfing, lots of socializing with other cruisers in a foreign country, and what can be a very low cost of living. Rain and jackets? No. Instead, shorts and T-shirts, even at night.

While the official deadline for the ‘Don’t Stop Believing’-themed Ha-Ha entries was about a week ago, we’re still getting inquiries and we’ll keep accepting them until October 1. For example, we received the following email from our good friends Richard and Sheri Crowe of Newport Beach, each of whom have hundreds of thousands of ocean miles to their credit, and who once sailed their Farr 44 Tabu from Ecuador through the Mexican hurricane zone to San Diego just to make the start of a Ha-Ha:

"It’s true that we’re retired from taking students on sail training trips aboard the S&S 65 Alaska Eagle on behalf of the Orange Coast College of Sailing and Seamanship, but that doesn’t mean we’re redundant. I, Rich, took a look at the entry list for this year’s Ha-Ha, and felt the need to be involved. Generally speaking, sailing is not a community activity, particularly in our case, as most of our trips have been far offshore and a long way between ports. But the Ha-Has we’ve done have been very different and rewarding experiences, both with friends that we know and friends that we hadn’t met yet. So if we could convince our old friends to join us, would the Ha-Ha consider a last-minute entry for Tabu and crew?"

The Rally Committee’s answer: We’d more than consider allowing you to enter the Ha-Ha, we’d be honored if you did another one with us. As for anybody else who missed the deadline, no worries, you can still sign up by visiting www.baja-haha.com. But please don’t wait too long, because it makes the event’s administrative details more complicated.

A few sailing friends have been asking the Grand Poobah how long he intends to continue heading up the Ha-Ha. It strikes us as an odd question because what else in the world could we possibly want to do during those two weeks at the end of October and beginning  of November? Sure, running an event like the Ha-Ha is a huge responsibility and we don’t get much sleep, but it’s also tremendously satisfying because it seems to give so many people so much pleasure.

As of today, the Ha-Ha entries for this year are:

1. Exodus / Lagoon 400 / San Diego / John Lightfoot & Sherry Franklin
2. Tamara Lee Ann / Celestial 48 / Emeryville / Doug & Tamara Thorne
3. Elysium / Catalina 42 Mk II / Anacortes, WA / Dan Ohlemacher
4. Day Dream / J/122 / San Francisco / Robert Day
5. Mandolina / Oceanic 45 / San Francisco / Rich Reiner
6. Milagro / Catalina 42 / Alameda / Michael & Judy Stouffer
7. Vakasa / Lagoon TPI 42 / Victoria, BC / Tony & Kathy Silver
8. Dolfin / Pacific Seacraft 37 / San Diego / Bill & Patty Meanley
9. Talos IV / Pacific Seacraft 37 / Seattle, WA / Paul & Janet Baker
10. Heavy Metal / Blue Water 60 / San Francisco / Rigo & Deborah Fuzetto
11. Elegant’sea / Islander Freeport 36 / San Diego / Chip & Debbie Willis
12. Grey Goose / Hunter 36 / Marina Bay / Alan & Linda Brabon
13. Ojo Rojo / Columbia 36 / Alamitos Bay / Keith & Terry Albrecht
14. Flibbertigibbet / O’Day 34 / Discovery Bay / Betty & Jim Adams
15. Defiant / C&C 115 / Vancouver, BC / Mike Northup & Nancy Kettles
16. Rubber Duckies / Coronado 45 / Alameda / Nicki & Darrell Powell-Ford
17. Shindig / Oyster 485 / Sausalito / Robert & Nancy Novak
18. Zoë / Fantasi 44 / Bainbridge Island, WA / David & Barbara Rogers
19. HighRoad / Hans Christian 38 / Astoria, OR / Robert & Nancy Atwood
20. Lanikai / Hunter 38 / Long Beach / Allan & Leanne Emas
21. Serenity Now / Catalina Mk II 36 / Dana Point / Dennis & Sue Nespor
22. Oogachaka / Krogen Widebody 42 / Coeur d’Alene, ID / Ken & Patty Sebby
23. Scot Free IV / Hylas 42 / Vancouver, BC / John Harper & Deborah Martin del Campo
24. Raireva / Cape Vickers 34 / Green Cove Springs / Marek Nowicki & Helen Chien
25. Odyssey / Islander Freeport 41 / Rio Vista / Kenneth & Danita Nissen
26. Gypsy Wind / Hunter 40.5 / Marina del Rey / James & Elizabeth Lee
27. La Boheme / Hylas 44 / Alameda / Marian Croyle & Neil Calvert
28. Wanuskewin / Catalina 42 Mk II / San Diego / Michael & Holly Sanderson
29. Krissy 2 / Passport 40 / San Francisco / Allen Cooper
30. Patanjali / Catalina 42 / Marina del Rey / Michael Bowe
31. Taj / Grainger 48 cat / Port Townsend, WA / Peter Brown
32. Victoria / Hudson Force 50 / Catawba, WI / Alan Young
33. A Viva / Islander 36 / San Diego / David Meyers
34. Gitane / Island Packet 38 / Seattle, WA / Kenneth & Nancy Hunting
35. Kindred Spirit / Tayana V42 / Emeryville / Jim & Michele Saake
36. Haulback / Spencer 35 / Vancouver, BC / Jim & Janet Kellam
37. Valhalla / Ericson 34 / San Francisco / Don & Kathie Wight
38. Distraction / Olson 911s / San Diego / Don Laverty
39. Rancho Relaxo / Islander 30 / Chula Vista / Paul Ingram
40. Aventura / Morgan 382 / Seattle, WA / Greg Smith
41. Desert Vision / Hunter 44 DS / Portland, OR / Michael & Iris Boone
42. R & B III / Catalina 36 / Santa Cruz / Robert Older & Richard Weed
43. Coyote / Hylas 42 / San Francisco / Jack Salyer
44. Sea Gazer / Islander 36 / San Diego / Thomas Fernandez
45. Valkyrie / Morgan 28 / San Francisco / Patric Walton
46. Wizard / Choate 40 / San Francisco / John & Susan Campbell
47. Fluenta / Stevens 47 / Halifax, NS / Max Shaw & Elizabeth Brown-Shaw
48. Beleza / Hylas 46 / San Pedro / Michael & Qi Bruce
49. Sea Note / Endeavour 43 / Fort Mohave, AZ / Thomas Wood
50. Story Seeker / Beneteau M445 / Sausalito / Keith Patterson & Marianna deCroes
51. Bangorang / Fountaine-Pajot Venezia 42 / Ventura / Colin & Wendy Gegg
52. Gundamain / Oyster 655 / Larkspur / Paxy Ltd.
53. Iataia / Beneteau First 45 / San Diego / Sara & Marcos Rodriguez
54. Reflections / Rafiki 37 / Morro Bay / Jeff Wass
55. Little Wing / Islander 34 / Point Richmond / Keith Somers & Mary Perkins
56. Autumn Wind / Catalina 34 / Alameda / Brian Plautz & Elizabeth Kline
57. Unwinder / Catalina 36 / San Diego / Robert Watson
58. Compadre / Columbia 45 / Long Beach / Doug & Virginia Ward
59. Rhapsody / Herreshoff Nereia 36 / Los Angeles / Alan & Laura Dwan
60. Gabby Wray / Catalina 470 / San Diego / Darrell & Wendy Peck
61. Granuaile / Tayana 52 / Marina del Rey / Gregory Richter & Janet Gaynor
62. Pied-a-Mer III / Seawind 1160 / Clatskanie, OR / Eric & Pam Sellix
63. Lion Heart / Catalina 42 / Redondo Beach / George & Veronica Lyons
64. The Beguine / Valiant 40 / Marysville, KS / Paul & Celeste Carpenter
65. Indiscretion / Hunter 35.5 / Victoria, BC / Albert Klettke
66. Pacific Hwy / Davidson 44 / St. John, USVI / Bruce & Laura Masterson
67. Jumble / Mariner 31 / San Diego / Andrew Martin & Anna Tang
68. Tinuviel / True North 34 / Benicia / Barry Foster & Kathy Crabtree
69. Eternal Bliss / Vagabond 47 / Channel Islands Harbor / Winthrop & Jennifer Artis
70. Destiny / 85-ft schooner / Friday Harbor, WA / Mike & Dawn Hillard
71. Calypseaux VII / Beneteau 303 / Lake Macquarie, AUS / Simon Macks & Brooke Jones
72. Magic Carpet / Catalina 36 / San Diego / Dan & Linda O’Dell
73. Alcyone / Ericson 36.5 / Ventura / John & Cynthia McDaniel
74. Flying Carpet / Polaris 43 / Astoria, OR / Richard Pomeroy
75. Oceania / True North 34 / Tofino, BC / Derek Shaw
76. Resilience / Contest 44 / Juneau, AK / Jim Taggart & Beth Mathews
77. Callisti / Sceptre 43 / Vancouver, BC / Roland Thiel
78. Oceana / Westsail 32 / Emeryville / Thom & Annette King
79. Second Sun / Young Sun 43 / Seattle, WA / Andy & Kate Bereson
80. Swagman / Amazon 44 / Durango, CO / John Cometti
81. Dream Catcher / Island Packet 37 / Olympia, WA / George & Barbara Gray
82. Cygnus Montanus II / Swan 77 / Sigtuna, SWE / Richard Jakaus & Paul Warneke
83. At Last / Sabre 38 / Bellingham, WA / Delayne Brink & Vicki Brighton
84. Mona Too / Hunter Legend 45 / Berkeley / David Halaby
85. Aleutian Light / Cal 31 / Alameda / Nick Hindman
86. Osprey / Gulfstar 50 / Sausalito / Kirk Miller
87. Wallflower / Kalik 44 / San Diego / Deron Bardin
88. Scuttle Butt / Formosa 41 Yankee Clipper / Two Harbors / Bruce Glass
89. Heart2Heart / Irwin 41 / Avalon / Jeff Overley
90. Sea Angel / Catalina 42 / Sacramento / Brian Taugher
91. Bonnie Lass / Catalina Morgan 440 / Tiburon / Bill Alexander
92. Aurora / Hylas 46 / Reno, NV / Curtis Johnson & Katie Osgood-Johnson
93. Tusitala / Townsend 47 / San Francisco / Briana Moseley & David Adolphs
94. Scintilla / CT 49 / Seattle, WA / Christopher Harry & Christine Barnes
95. Flying Fox / Corsair 31 / Incline Village / George Woodley
96. Talion / Gulfstar 50 / La Paz, BCS / Patsy Verhoeven
97. Emerald Isle / Island Packet 420 / Goodyear, AZ / Mike & Kathee Mealer
98. Beach Access / Lagoon 380 / Newport Beach / Glenn Twichell
99. Red / Waterline 38 / Juneau, AK / Richard Dowling
100. Sojourn / Pearson Alberg 35 / Brisbane / Bridget & Bruce Eastman
101. Inspirare / Bavaria 47 / Seattle, WA / Annika & Arvid Elias
102. En Pointe / Searunner 31 / San Francisco / Tom Van Dyke
103. Spiritus / Ingrid 38 / Newport, OR / Thomas & Carolyn Harper
104. Silhouette / Beneteau 423 / San Antonio, TX / Phil Donatto
105. Mariah / Gulf 32 PH / Seattle, WA / Ken Painter
106. Sea Stig / Santa Cruz 40 / San Francisco / Shawn Price
107. Mean Kitty / Catalina 42 / Ventura / William Walters
108. Got D’Fever / DeFever 45 PH / Kirkland, WA / Leonard & Lorena Landon
109. Aphrodite / Jeanneau SO 45 / Brisbane / Peggy & Barry Corlett
110. Ronin / Caliber 38 / Vancouver, BC / Dwayne Jennings
111. Trumpeter / Newport Gulf 32 / Chula Vista / Robert & Robby Hinds
112. Dos Tacos / Seawind 1160 cat / Portland, OR / Tony & Michelle Soter
113. Bluewater / Seawind 1000 cat / Santa Cruz / Mark Barrish & Lawrence Kerver
114. Camelot / Hunter 54 / Portland, OR / Howard & Donna Shaw
115. Kinda Blue / Hershine 41 / Portland, OR / Jerome Phillips
116. Brizo / Coronado 35 / Portland, OR / Tom & Leila Whitney Miron
117. Ripple Effect / Creekmore 35 / San Francisco / Jason Ahrens
118. Patricia Belle / 66-ft schooner / Seattle, WA / Patrick Hughes
119. Star Passage / Valiant 40 / Pt. Richmond / Peter & Kim Johnson
120. Scout / Jeanneau SO 52.2 / Whitefish, MT / Greg Himes
121. Emerald Lady / Cheoy Lee Offshore 47 / Seattle, WA / John & Kelly Wanamaker
122. Palapa / Cal 34 / Moss Landing / Aron & Rheanne Kormout
123. Blackjack / Hunter 46.6 / Point Loma / Jonathan Peebles
124. Sisu / Hans Christian 43 / San Francisco / Christopher & Barbara Warnock
125. Purusha / Spencer 53 / Vancouver, BC / Erin Hope-Goldsmith & Lyndie Burtt
126. Sweet Dreams / Irwin 54 / Portland, OR / James & Gina Nie
127. Truant / Cabo Rico 38 / San Diego / Frank Murphy
128. Golden Eagle / Catalina 30 / Seattle, WA / Ethan Johnson
129. Fellowship / Valiant 42 / Wilmington, DE / Rich & Lyn Lewis
130. Thunderbird 1 / Albin Stratus 36 / Alameda / International Rescue Group
131. Joya / Dreadnought 32 / Brookings, OR / Steve Pruitt
132. Surfbird / Coronado 30 / Del Mar Marina / Darcy McBride & Traci Grant
133. Arcane / Aura 40 / Montreal, QC / Jean Cote & Jacinthe Morin
134. Cariba / Bayfield 36 / Vancouver, BC / Gabriel Cote & Isabelle Valois
135. She Said OK / Catalina 30 / San Diego / Jeff Kiddy
136. Lady J / Beneteau 393 / San Diego / Steve Hirsh
137. Kairos / Beneteau 50 / Road Town, BVI / Thilo Kuther
138. Distant Drum / Idylle 15.50 / San Diego / Harry Hazzard
139. Bella Dama / Islander 36 /  Ventura / Chad Kominek