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When Do Cruisers Become Racers?

It’s a fact that most cruising sailors never race. That’s partly because they feel they’d be ‘sailing their house’, which is too heavily laden to be competitive, and partly because many of them have little or no previous racing experience. 

But not all cruisers think this way, as evidenced by this note from Robin Weber: "When we read about the Banderas Bay Regatta in Latitude 38, it sounded like a great event for cruisers. So when we decided to sail Agave Azul in the 2013 Ha-Ha, BBR became a must-do addition to our calendar. This past week, thirty-one boats came to the starting line. Baja Ha-Ha alumni were very well represented."

Meet the winners of BBR’s Cruising Division (left to right): Rob & Nancy Novak’s Sausalito-based Oyster 485 Shindig took first, and Robin & Kathryn Weber’s Sausalito-based Catalina 470 Agave Azul took second.

Agave Azul
©2014 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

"The Vallarta Yacht Club did a great job organizing the event," adds Robin. "The competition was relaxed and friendly, and the weather cooperated with sunny skies and wind from 6 to 20 knots." You can’t ask for a much better combination than that. Look for more detailed reporting on the event here and in the April edition of Latitude 38.

Agave Azul’s crew were all Baja Ha-Ha 2013 vets. Left to right are: the Webers, Richelle & Brian Neill of the Victoria, BC-based custom 45-ft cutter Woodwind II and Ron Brown of the Oakland-based Islander 36 Hazel Rose.

Agave Azul
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC

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Dawn in the tropics, a very pleasant and sensual experience. latitude/Richard
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC After a long winter of extra strong Christmas trades, early mornings in the Caribbean have now turned sweet.