Looking Ahead, Beyond Baja Ha-Ha XXXI

Since announcing the end of the Baja Ha-Ha and therefore his reign as Grand Poobah, Richard Spindler has been fielding questions and comments from people concerning a “vacuum of sorts for southbound boats in fall 2026.” Some are talking about options to create another event and what that might require.

“Speaking as the honcho of all 31 Ha-Ha’s, let me make one thing clear,” the Poobah states on the Ha-Ha website. “The Ha-Ha might appear to be a simple event, but it’s extremely complicated, with numerous obstacles.” He says the event has lasted this long due to the “long-term personal relationships” the Ha-Ha organizers have established with various government agencies and officials in Mexico City, Cabo San Lucas, Mulegé, and San Carlos, together with long personal relationships with key individuals and businesses in San Diego, Turtle Bay, Bahia Santa Maria, San Carlos, and Cabo San Lucas.

“It has taken decades to figure out who these people are, and even more importantly, how to contact them. Over the years I’ve lost a lot of sleep navigating what was required to keep the Ha-Ha alive. Were it not for these personal relationships, the Ha-Ha would have expired years ago,” the Poobah continues, citing one example of needing “a special dispensation from the highest levels of the Mexican navy in Mexico City.” And then there was the year they created a makeshift immigration office on the back of the mother ship Profligate in Bahia Santa Maria.

The Poobah has spent decades fine-tuning the Ha-Ha logistics. He also started from a reasonably informed place. When he started the rally in 1994, he was still the owner and publisher of Latitude 38, which afforded him broad access to the sailing community, and legitimacy.

“I was going south with my own boat no matter if anybody else was going to join me. But more than anything, the big advantage was that it was a more simple time back then,” he continues. Working with the Mexican government is no longer as easy as it was; the Poobah says everything has become more complicated. “Much, much more complicated.” He lists some of the points a new cruising rally to Mexico would need to consider:

Getting Latitude 38 (that’s us) onboard for starters. “Latitude is critical for publicity and connecting with the dozens of businesses that support the Ha-Ha.” We also work with the Ha-Ha in creating the free First Timer’s Guide to Mexico and Meet the Fleet booklets.

“In addition to Latitude’s considerable time and expense, somebody has to update all the information in those booklets as well as write the 140 or so boat bios,” the Poobah adds. ‘I’ve written every bio to date, and while it’s a labor of love, it takes a lot of time. But without Latitude 38, any future event similar to the Ha-Ha would be a real stretch.”

Then one would need to design, manage, and regularly update the website; answer all the questions from participants and potential participants; be up to date on everything in Mexico — marinas, clearing in, TIPs, insurance, various forms of communications, and every nautical question under the sun. “Over the years Assistant Poobah Patsy Verhoeven has answered as many as 1,000 email questions in one year.”

And don’t forget the Annual Ha-Ha Kick-Off Costume Party in San Diego, co-hosted by West Marine, plus the Downwind Marine Welcome Cruisers Party and cruising seminars.

“Having just gotten started listing what would be required, actually the easy stuff, I realize that I’ve got better things to do with my afternoon. Like the boat bios for this year’s Ha-Ha,” the Poobah continues, adding that several Ha-Ha veterans from Profligate are toying with the idea of a post-Baja Ha-Ha event. “Collectively they know a lot of what’s involved and many of the key people involved.”

Discussions will take place after this year’s Ha-ha, the Poobah says, ensuring they and anyone else who may be interested get all the details on exactly what, and whom, they need to know. “So I suggest that nobody get too invested in any plans until mid-November.”

“As for me, I have one goal, and that is to make sure the last Baja Ha-Ha is as good as it can possibly be. Thanks for understanding.”

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