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He Sailed to Mexico with the Baja Ha-Ha and Never Left

On Monday evening, after docking Baja Fog, we quickly jumped aboard a water taxi panga for the very short, quick ride to Barra de Navidad. No special occasion, just a typical Monday night in paradise. The crew of Baja Fog had reservations for dinner at Barra Galería de Arte.

Baja Fog crew at dinner
The crew of the Lagoon 440 Baja Fog — John, Scott and Monique — made it for their dinner reservation in town. Those look like Coronas, but actually they’re Baja Fogs: a shot of tequila poured into the beer, rendering the top third cloudy.
© 2022 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

Robert Hansen is a talented photographer, and his wife, Rosy, is a talented chef. Robert’s from the East Bay area, and Rosy’s from right there in Barra de Navidad (she was actually born in one of the rooms that’s now part of the restaurant/art gallery). What’s any of that have to do with sailing? And what the heck is a Baja Ha-Ha burgee doing hanging in the restaurant’s tequila lounge?

Baja Ha-Ha '07 burgee
Mexican flag: check. US flag: check. Canadian flag: check (as we mentioned in Wednesday’s ‘Lectronic, Barra de Navidad is extremely popular with Canadian snowbirds). Baja Ha-Ha flag: check — wait, what?!
© 2022 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

Turns out that Robert sailed south as crew in the 2007 Baja Ha-Ha cruising rally. He made it as far as Barra de Navidad. There he met Rosy and fell in love. He’s still there.

Rosy and Robert
Rosy and Robert. Rosy’s kids are the servers for the restaurant.
© 2022 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

Speaking of talent, Monday nights actually are special, for the music of Salvador, who entertains the diners with his singing and amazing virtuosity on the guitar (and all the other instruments on the backing tracks he prerecorded).

Salvador playing guitar
In the beautiful garden, Salvador rocks out, playing songs in Spanish and English — the latter with a charming accent. The fire pit in the sand is for ambience and roasting marshmallows. It’s not needed for warmth! (Our apologies for the sub-par photos, taken in low light with an iPhone SE. We’re no match for Robert’s photographic virtuosity.)
© 2022 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

You see, you never know where you’ll find yourself when you say “Yes!” to adventure.

5 Comments

  1. Rich Brazil 2 years ago

    I’ll have to try one of those Baja Fogs!

  2. michael kehir 2 years ago

    Where’s “French Baker French Baker”!

  3. Randy Repass 2 years ago

    What a life Monique and you are leading! Showing us the way via the best sailing mag, Latitude 38. When are you running for mayor of Barra….

  4. Patty Silva 2 years ago

    Awesome post. We are friends of Robert and Rosy. Met Robert at Alameda Yacht Club
    on San Francisco Bay, CA. Where we were all members and had so many great memories of those local SF Bay Sailing days.
    Fast forward. My husband and I traveled down to visit Robert and meet Rosy ❤️❤️❤️❤️. We spent a wonderful several days in Barra. Robert and Rosy are such a loving couple. So ingrained in their community. The amazing restaurant is really just the icing on an incredible life of giving back to their community. Can’t wait to return. ❤️

  5. Jack Gill 2 years ago

    “He Sailed to Mexico with the Baja Ha-Ha and Never Left.” Plus one. HaHa, 2011, and still here (currently in La Paz).
    This was not the plan; there was no plan; however, I did not think the journey would end here, I still don’t, but it’s been eleven years! The Sea of Cortez has an allure akin to the Sirens of the Odyssey without the tragic results.

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