Ha-Ha Fleet Relaxes in Turtle Bay

Over the past two days, the Baja Ha-Ha XVIII fleet arrived at the small fishing town of Bahia Tortugas (Turtle Bay), where they received an exceedingly warm welcome from the local population, as is always the case.

Yesterday was a day of fun and relaxation, the highlight being a three-hour all-generations baseball game where local kids joined in. Typically, the number of errors far outweighed the number of legitimate hits, but there was no doubt that all who participated had a rollicking good time. The best hit of the day was a powerful line drive over the infield by David Kane of the Seattle, WA-based Atlantic 42 cat Lightspeed, who sped to an inside-the-park home run.

Afterward, many fleet members attended a fiesta in the town plaza, before the annual evening party at the town’s largest restaurant, the Vera Cruz.

As we took stock of the fleet’s minor mechanical problems and sailing accomplishments, it was learned that at least 31 boats sailed the entire course of Leg One after the ‘rolling start’ was terminated at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning. They are: Panache, Saltbreaker, Time Piece, Sail Time, Camanoe, San Frontieres, Hasta Luego, Comanera, Sea Reach, Huck, About Time II, Azure Te’, Convivia, Windara, Sea Angel, Frannie B, Island Wind, Liberation II, Knot Tide Down, Last Resort, Koh-Ring, Talion, Tabu, Drei, The Islander, Cat 2 Fold, Damiana, Sail Potion, Lightspeed, Double Diamond, and Orcinius, L’Obession.

As in years past, this final day of R&R in Turtle Bay will be dedicated to a beach party on the long sandy crescent a mile east of town. In addition to volleyball and other beach games, we’ll have a massive potluck, with many successful fishermen sharing their catches on the fleet barbecues. Leg Two begins outside the bay at 8 a.m. tomorrow (October 29).