Advice on Baja HaHa?

[Sam]

Hey gang, I've been invited to go on the '06 "Baja-HaHa" on a friend's '85-ish diesel Catalina 30. I fully trust the skip and boat, having sailed with them to southern Cal and back 2 years ago. (Pt Conception passage to Monterey was motor all the way in January; nothing over 15knots.) And also many times on SF Bay and the coast from Bodega to Monterey. The boat is fully equipped; roller furl on jibs, 2 reefs (from cockpit) in main, cruising spin, dodger, radar, charting GPS (and backup). There will be 3 of us on the boat for the Cabo trip. I've always been the designated navigator (lots of Cal coastal experience, various piloting courses), but I've nver been on this trip before. What advice do you have?And, although it's the skipper's problem, what's the best way back? Delivery crew, truck, or ship it? I could arrange to have the time for delivery. But the general info says that's for someone who's getting paid, not for fun...Sam

 

[Dave]

Baja Ha Ha info

Sam,The best info on the Ha Ha can be had at the Ha Ha website and every information meeting that the Grand Poohbah holds.

 

[Heidi]

Amazing Time

Our family just did the 2005 Ha Ha and LOVED it. The Grand Poobah goes ABOVE and beyond the norm for making sure that every boat is accounted for and if there are problems all the other crisers do their best to help out. The parties are a lot of fun, the people you meet are wonderful.We got Charlie's Charts and used paper charts and GPS and listened to the SSB every day, used the VHF religiously. As long as your boat is seaworthy and you have experienced crew go fo it! Make sure all your systems are checked out prior to leaving San Diego: ENGINE and fuel systems, autopilot(s), water tanks, water maker, all electronics and DON'T FORGET YOUR SPARE PARTS. They are either not available in Mexico or are VERY expensive to obtain. That being said they can fix almost anything, especially in La Paz. OH, remember a Baja fuel filter too!We enjoyed almost 3 glorious months in Mexico and our boat is still in the Sea of Cortez. We will be sailing her home to Oregon this April and May. We looked into the trucking option, as well as Dockwise and having a captain do the trip but ulitmately decided that we want the experience. We will try and buddy-boat, but that isn't as important as adhering to our motto: Easy does it, look for your weather window and go for it...All in all, would I do it again... in a heartbeat, YES. We plan on going south again and will hopefully hang a right to the south Pacific and the Ha Ha helped.

 

[larryw]

ha-ha

Sam;I did the ha-ha in 2000. With three of you on board and a well-found boat that's been thoroughly shaken down, you should have no problems. The pace is fast, tho. Not much time to stop and smell the seaweed between the planned stops. Time your anchorage entrances for daylight. Go for it.

 

[OceanDeliveries]

delivery team

If you need delivery crew.............www.oceandeliveries.comGood Luck

 

[Jack S.]

Cruising down Mexico way

I'm sitting in La Paz in an '83 Catalina 30. Our 7th year here in Marina de La Paz. Opted out of Baja Ha Ha and sailed down anyway. Don't carry too much stuff as you can get almost anything here (a Costco in Cabo, Office Depot in La Paz, etc). Supermarkets have just about everything. We brought too much only to find we could get it here. Great diesel mechanics, parts, etc. Boatyards quite good. I do carry spare impellers, water pumps (but they rebuild them here). You can order from West Marine from local marine supply and even Downwind Marine in San Diego. Takes a little time, but not a problem, especially for a Cat 30 (call factory for help if needed). Getting back? Sail up to San Carlos in the Sea of Cortez and have it trucked up to San Diego (3500 - 5000 dollars) Dockwise stops here (barge..float on float off). Mexico is working on the transpeninsula road that allows a truck to carry the boat mastup from the Sea to the Pacific just 200 miles below San Diego. Or...sail it back up. Great cuising community here with lots of help/advice.