Ketch 22 in the Baja Ha Ha Cruisers Rally

Photos and text of the sailing voyages of Ketch 22

Ketch 22 was part of the The 13th    Baja Ha-Ha  cruisers rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.   The event is loosely affiliated with the west coast sailing magazine   Latitude 38,   and takes place every fall.   There were approximately 160 yachts that joining Ketch 22 for the trek south.   Navigation was simplified somwhat during the daylight hours.   It was reduced to following the other boats.  Nights were a little more problenmatic, and the GPS, radar and Charlies Charts of the West Coast of Mexico became invaluable.   The HaHa is roughly two weeks in duration and is in its 16th year as of 2009.   These pictures and text of that voyage were taken by crew, friends and family.

Turtle Bay is a protected bay along the Pacific coast of Mexico's Baja Peninsula.   There is a small town near by with primarily dirt roads and only a few services.   After nearly three days at sea, it was a welcome stop along the way.

The voyage to Santa Maria was largely uneventful.   The winds were moderate with the exception of an abrupt 180 degree wind change that occurred just prior to sun down.   Fortunately, we had just dropped the staysail and the only damage was a a bent bow pulpit and a broken boom vang mount point.  

Bahia Santa Maria is a well protected bay along the Mexican Pacific Coast of the Baja Peninsula.   The landscape is best described as surreal, a characterization which is only magnified by bringing roughly 150 boats into an otherwise isolated and empty anchorage, add cold beer , Pussers Rum and a rock band from La Paz to throw a party for the Baja Ha Ha.

The voyage to El Cabo started out out warm and got warmer.   At roughly the same latitude as Hawaii, the water and air temps were starting to heat up.   No complaints.

Cabo San Lucas, the southern most suburb of Los Angeles.   A little bit of everything - for a price.

Sailors Myth # 14   Some Like It Hot!

Myth Buster # 14:   Yeah, yeah, yeah. Some like it cold. Different strokes...

Click on Sea Of Cortez   to continue the voyage.