The Start of the Baja Ha Ha

The Baja Ha Ha is the annual 750 mile cruising rally from San Diego down to Cabo San Lucas that is now in its 12th year. The two week rally consists of two stops along the coast, at Turtle Bay and Bahia Santa Maria, before reaching Cabo San Lucas. I had heard about it from many sources; my sailing instructors, racing buddies and through the sailing communities' "Bible," Latitude 38.  I jumped at the chance to tell my company that I had a better opportunity, as crew on the Sumatra, a 53' Trintella Captained by Dr. Jerry Morgan. He had vast sailing experience, having completed the Baja Ha Ha in 2002 along with many races on the bay and the Pacific Cup to Hawaii. I managed to make it to San Diego just in time for the Halloween Party on the 30th. I met the captain at the Crew Party hosted by Latitude 38 back in September. He recently retired after 35 years of practice and now planned to cruise the world after the Baja Ha Ha. At this time I also met up with my additional crew mates for the first time; Dawn, Curt, Harold and Libby.

Our crew was finally gathered as one and we were all anticipating getting away from it all. Dawn who left her job two days previously, drove down to San Diego from San Francisco in the hopes of getting on a boat; and lucky for her and us, she made it onto the Sumatra. She was a welcome asset as she was not only a seasoned racing sailor but a sailing instructor. Curt has his own sailboat in Sausalito and was a former Coast Guard Search and Rescue expert. My slightly neurotic mother, always fretting about the potential dangers of sailing, was thrilled to learn this comforting fact about our addition to the crew. He was also quite handy with fixing things and anyone with a boat knows there is never a shortage of things needing fixing. Harold, 2nd mate to the Captain, was ready and willing to do his bidding. He kept himself busy as he quietly chronicled in minute detail his observations of the crew, to be used as material for a future book perhaps. Libby, the Captain's cousin from NYC, had also just left her job. She was on New York time and attitude and although it would take her time, she would eventually shed the heaviness of city living and exude the lightness of the cruising lifestyle. She took on the role as the galley wench, serving us gourmet meals that resulted in us being the best fed crew in the fleet. Then there was myself who had also left a job recently. I had sailed the Caribbean and Venezuelan islands as a hired hand, but doing the Baja Ha Ha was an experience I had always hoped to do one day. I was thirlled to have this sudden window of opportunity available and I was eager to be a part of this special community connected worldwide through their love of the open seas.

The Halloween party began with our Grand Poobah, Richard, reviewing the logistics of the Baja Ha Ha. His deep, booming voice commanded attention of the 130 boats and 535 sailors participating. Richard has this larger than life presence, possibly from his large stature or maybe due to him being the force behind not only the Baja Ha Ha but also for the Latitude 38. When I met him, I was a bit in awe of him, but have since found him to be the most caring, teddy bear of a man. Without Richard at the helm, I can not even imagine there being a Baja Ha Ha. Logistics were at last completed, and suddenly in a parking lot by a hotel on the San Diego Bay, the Baja Ha Ha participants were decked out in Halloween costumes. There were all types of costumes including a number of pirates not surprisingly. Grilled Mexican food and drinks were in abundance. A DJ skillfully spun the theme song of the costume category on deck; pirates, TV & movies, kids...most voluptuous. Prizes were awarded for whomever received the most enthusiastic hooting and clapping from the audience. I found myself up in the front of the crowd in an I Dream of Genie costume dancing to the theme of its TV show. Not quite knowing what type of dance one does as a Genie, I danced as if I were granting wishes to the crowd; Fun, Sun and Powerful Wind. I must have done something right as I won a prize; a West Marine wet bag that came in quite handy throughout the voyage. It was a fantastic start to the Baja Ha Ha.