Meeting More of the Ha-Ha Fleet, 2025

Over the past couple of months we’ve been sharing the sailing bios of some of this year’s Baja Ha-Ha fleet. With less than a month to go, we’re adding a few more to the growing list.

Hop Guy, Sausalito/Saratoga — Bacchanal, J/133

Hop, 68, works in IP law. His crew will include his 29-year-old twin sons, Will and Sam Guy; Matt Zarem, 53, a licensed captain and former sailing instructor who has raced J/105s on San Francisco Bay for 25 years and now runs the Spaulding Marine Center; Matt’s son, Mason Zarem, 12, a student of life, dinghy sailor, and all-around water kid; and Matt’s wife, Tiffany Zarem, a marketing professional. Matt and Tiffany have chartered all over the world. There may also be one more crewmember, also named Will.

Hop has been sailing for 54 years, during which time he’s owned five boats between 17 and 43 feet, “plus a dozen small ones.” He’s owned Bacchanal for eight years. She took second in Class A in this year’s St. Francis Big Boat Series — though Hop claims, “It was no thanks to me.”

Hop’s longest sails have been from Monterey to San Francisco and Santa Barbara to the Channel Islands. He dreams of one day sailing a Swan 50 in the Caribbean. Right-handed Hop’s favorite dessert is French apple tart with ice cream. “I’m doing this with my sons,” he adds, “and I’m very excited about it.”

Andrew and Leigh Tosh, Newport Beach — Amanzi, Lagoon 42

Andrew, 58, is in sales, while Leigh, who is from South Africa and has a lovely accent to prove it, is a homemaker. Andrew’s Baptist mother would like him to say that the couple met at a fine-dining establishment, but it was actually a bar. They will have three crew: brother Taylor Tosh, 55, a DJ; Chris Jester, 53; and Dan Warner, 48, a business owner with a background in mountaineering and scuba, happiest with salt in the air and a little risk on the horizon.

Having sold their printing and packaging business, Andrew and Leigh have officially traded paper boxes for compass roses and launched themselves into the cruising life, starting with the Ha-Ha. Why? Because spreadsheets are overrated and the ocean has far fewer staff meetings. It’s also helped that the twin daughters are off the dole, so it’s time to set sail at a slower pace of life. Roughly six knots, give or take a squall.

“Drewsie” and Leigh recently proved their salty chops in the 2024 Newport to Ensenada Race, where they “crushed” their competition, finishing first in class. Rumor has it Andrew screamed, “Woooo!” as they surfed down a swell at a spicy 12.8 knots. It was less of a cruise and more of a champagne spray at the finish line.

Practically born with a tiller in hand, Andrew cut his teeth racing Sabots at Bahia Corinthian YC in Newport, and later helmed Harbor 20s with salt in his veins and competitiveness in his soul. He was essentially Neptune’s intern. He’s also a passionate surfer and fisherman.

Leigh, ever the adventurous co-captain, is diving into sailing with a life jacket full of good humor and Google searches. She’s fully “on board” with Andrew’s dream of sailing around the world — or at least to the Caribbean, her current definition of “the world.”

With enthusiasm, experience, and just the right amount of “winging it,” the Amanzi folks are “ready to ride the trade winds, chase sunsets, and maybe even remember what all those little buttons on the chartplotter do.”

Garry and Cheryl Dobson, Cold Springs (Seven Ha-Ha’s) — Stainsby Girl, Catalina 470

Garry, 74, is a retired real estate developer who did the Ha-Ha in ’94, ’99, ’00, ’06, ’19, ’22 and ’24. Spouse Cheryl joined him for the Ha-Ha’s in ’19, ‘22 and ’24. Their crew will be Jim Painter, 67, a vet of the ’22 and ’24 Ha-Ha’s, who is retired from IT; and Karen Miller, a retired executive assistant who did the ’21, ’22, and ’24 Ha-Ha’s. “It’s great to have Jim and Karen back to ‘get the band back together,'” says Garry, “as they are great sailors, good cooks, and low maintenance”.

“This will be my eighth Ha-Ha,” Dobson says. “I have owned Stainsby Girl since 2005.”

After the Ha-Ha, the Dobsons will be spending time in La Paz and the Sea of Cortez. November is typically one of the three best months of the year in the Sea — as long as there are no early-season Northers.

Garry’s favorite quote is a classic truth: “There are wood ships, and good ships, and ships that sail the seas. But the best ships are the friendships, and may they always be.”