BAJA HA-HA LUCKY 13 PREVIEW, PT II "The person who has lived the most is not the one with the most years, but the one with the richest experiences." — Jean Jacques Rousseau
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pparently our philosophy jibes with that of old Jean Jacques. After all, what's the use of living to be 105 if you never get outside your comfort zone and test your personal limits. For most participants, the annual Baja Ha-Ha rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas allows them to do just that. Furthermore, as we mentioned last month in our first installment of Ha-Ha profiles, this moderately challenging twoweek getaway provides the catalyst that inspires many of its 600+ participants to reinvent themselves. After a few days of offshore sailing, free from the monotony of the workaday world, mild-mannered office drones soon morph into swashbuckling adventurers with sun-tanned cheeks and wind-tousled hair. After standing a few night watches under brilliant, star-splattered skies, chronic worriers often transform into carefree vagabonds — later to be seen dancing on the tables of Cabo's notorious watering holes. Before those transitions take place, however, we'll introduce you to them as they are in 'normal' life. The event begins Monday, October 30 off San Diego's Coronado Rodes. (Look for a third and final installment in November and a complete post-rally report in December.) Saeta — Sceptre 41 Richard & Andrea Black, Santa Cruz In any given year the range of vocations represented by Ha-Ha entrants is always wildly diverse. But we don't recall ever seeing Richard and Andrea's professions on an entry form. She is a flamenco dancer and he is her guitar accompanist. Paul and Erin of 'Romany Star' plan to travel cheaply in order to travel far.
(He also works as both a civil and yacht designer.) Fittingly, they list Spain as their long-range cruising target. "I've been waiting for this trip for about 30 years," says Richard, "and here it is!" He's been sailing since 1969, and we'd bet it was he who introduced Andrea to the sport a decade ago. Don't expect this roomy 41-footer to be at the front of the pack, as she's carrying spares and provisions for extended cruising, in addition to a P.A. system, costumes, and — would you believe — a collapsible dance floor! Apollo II — Fountaine Pajot 45 cat Vic & Roberta Kelley, Sonora "After 28 years in prison, my plan of escape is finally becoming a reality," admits Vic. "San Quentin is surrounded by water on three sides, and I have been drawn to it for years." Fear not, Vic was a counselor there, not an inmate. He took up sailing 20 years ago on Sierra lakes as a pressure reliever from the job, and rigors of life in general. Vic and his wife of 10 years, Roberta, bought this comfy boat a year and a half ago with plans to spend six months a year cruising Mexican waters. Crewing on the Ha-Ha will be Vic's son Shane and daughter-in-law Shana, as well as friend Bob Harrison, an avid singlehander and former prison guard. (Be nice to him.) Romany Star — Ohlson 38 Paul & Erin Moore, Seattle "Go slow," advises Paul. "Even if it means living on $400 a month. Enjoy it to the fullest, because it's so hard to go back." He ought to know. During the '90s, he did a five-year Central America and South Pacific circuit, including the Galapagos and southeast Alaska. After Erin came into the picture, the couple began an exhaustive five-year refit, incorporating interior features such as a full-size piano keyboard for Erin. Remarkably, they're still together. Last year they quit their jobs — he was a computer programmer and she was a flight attendant — and symbolically burnt their working attire in a local park, which earned them a scolding from local officials. Now, it's on to open-ended adventures anywhere between 25°N and 25°S. Kiskedee — F&C 44 Peter and Aaron Behman, Morro Bay Owning a fine-quality boat had been a lifelong dream for Peter. And when
"the stars finally lined up," as he puts it, allowing him to buy one, he made an excellent choice. Designed by German Frers, F&Cs are little known on the West Coast, but are beautiful, fine-sailing yachts nonetheless. Although born in London, Peter grew up in Southern California, idolizing the sailing life since he was "a pup." As a teenager, he wanted to own his own boat so bad that he built a Sabot in his high school wood shop. Years later, a last-minute invitation to crew on a Beer Can race "changed his life," as he began racing actively. Peter's 31-year-old son Aaron will share in the dream cruise to Cabo, as will friends Greg Barker and Gerald Luhr. Palapa — Catalina 350 Roger & Tobé Hayward, Long Beach "We've found that we like each other better when sailing," say Roger and Tobé, explaining, "It must be the lack of clothing!" With that discovery, they've decided to "maximize our time on the boat before we're too old." The couple, both of whom are engineers, had a great time doing the Ha-Ha last year, and the fun continued afterward as they sailed down the Central American coast, with intermittent trips
