BAJA HA-HA XVIII RECAP — I
n an assessment of tabloid-worthy sensationalism, this year's Baja Ha-Ha rally would score very low points. There were no dismastings, no mid-ocean collisions, no near-death injuries, and no need for dramatic open-water rescues. Heck, as far as we know, there weren't
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Twenty-five-year-old Zachary Lough of 'Panache' — seen here in his devilish costume — showed true Ha-Ha spirit from start to finish.
even any marriages that broke up due to the typical stresses of crampedspace-itis and sleep deprivation. This year's 750-mile cruise from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas was, in fact, one of the mellowest in the rally's 18-year history. As you'll read in the following pages, it featured long stretches of nearperfect 8- to15-knot sailing conditions that inspired one sailor to wax poetic on the morning radio net that he'd just experienced his best sailing day ever. Months earlier, when searching for a catchy moniker for this year's event, the Rally Committee dubbed it the 'barely legal' Ha-Ha — the 18th, get it? — imAlthough skies were gray for the San Diego Harbor parade, the spirits of fleet members were bright.
ALL PHOTOS LATITUDE / ANDY EXCEPT AS NOTED
plying that it would be so much fun it ought to be illegal. The two-week rally certainly did live up to that claim, but as we reflect back on our sunny memories, we think the most apt description is 'blissfully benign'. We suspect, however, that some diehard veterans of former rallies were disappointed not to have seen wind speeds in the high 20s that generated surfable 8-ft swells. But we're certain that most first-timers were delighted by the tranquilo nature of this year's conditions. All in all, it was an ideal introduction to offshore cruising. any crews began preparing for this long-established Mexican getaway years — even decades — before the starting horn sounded on October 24. Others, however, made the decision to join the southbound exodus on short notice. In fact, the final sign-up, John Minkiewitz and John DeGolyer's American Samoabased Jeanneau 45 Michaela, was added to the entry roster just a week before the start. Surprisingly, though, theirs was not the most far-distant hailing port. Globe-trotting author/adventurer Lars Hässler of Stockholm, Sweden had sailed 5,000 miles across the North Pacific from Japan in order to join this year's rally. Not surprisingly there were also plenty of Canadians gravitating toward the Mexican sun — 14 boatloads in all, from three provinces. As you may have read previously in our fleet profiles, participants came from all different walks of life, sailing aboard a wide range of boat types that included both gold-plater yachts and vintage, low-budget cruisers. We were delighted to note that eight young owner/skippers (32 or younger) finished the rally. The two youngest were Zachary Lough, 25, of the Venturabased Catalina 30 Panache, and Marc Abdou, 26, of the Catalina 27 Mer-Sea. Both Lough and 32-yearold Dave Satterwhite of the
S.F.-based C&C 39 Camanoe ended up winning their divisions, having sailed the entire course. The youngest fleet member of all, however, was two-yearold Liam Rogers of the Oregon-based Ingrid 38 Grace, while the oldest was 83-year-old Merrill Newman, first mate aboard the Redondo Beach-based Pacific Seacraft 37 Solstice. The first official activity of Baja HaHa XVIII was the Pre-Halloween Costumed Kick-off Party, the day before the start. As in past years, it was generously cohosted by West Marine at the company's Shelter Island compound, just a few blocks from where many HaHa boats found berths. (We should note that one localized upside to the sluggish economy was that finding berths
As the fleet slid south of Ensenada during the wee hours of that first night, a gentle breeze began to build from the northwest. throughout San Diego Bay was easier than ever this year.) As usual, many crews went to great lengths to deck themselves out in elaborate costumes that ranged from the traditional — lots of gnarly pirates and saucy wenches — to the bizarre: Zachary Lough and his crew painted their bodies from head to toe in powdery, brightred tempera paint, apparently signaling their tendency toward devilish behavior. Some of the crews that seemed to be having the most fun were those who'd picked a cohesive theme, such as the cast of Gilligan's Island, a bevy of toga-clad Greeks, four little piggies, the human embodiment of a 'full boat' (full house) poker hand, and the principal characters from Peter Pan — including the crocodile. Although this Tinker Bell was a big guy in drag whose wings appeared to be much too small to elevate him even an inch! Each boatload of entrants received a swag bag full of goodies — event Tshirts, caps, and other souvenirs — and had access to the all-you-couldeat taco bar and beverage tent. The predictable highlight of this light-hearted shindig was the cos-
