Could Baja Ha-Ha XXIX be the last?

The Atlantic Ocean grabs the North American headlines from June 1 to November 30 as that is when tropical or subtropical cyclones are most likely to form. But there is also a hurricane season for the Pacific Ocean which officially begins on May 15 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1 in the central Pacific, with both ending on November 30.

The storms in the Pacific are best known for battering Mexico, and occasionally extending toward the Hawaiian islands. Near the close of the season is when cruisers travel along the California coast to make their final preparations in San Diego before departing for a Mexican adventure, or further.

A prominent event that supports the southbound transit is the Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally, initiated by Latitude 38 magazine founder Richard Spindler, who offers this update:

I know that many future southbound cruisers make plans to do the Ha-Ha years in advance, and I also know that a lot of these folks are curious about the future of the event. I have been synonymous with the Ha-Ha since the day I founded it in 1994, so I have some insight.

The Ha-Ha is not a typical sailing event run by a yacht club or some association with built-in continuity, but rather a business I’ve run for 29 years in an extremely hands-on way. I’ve sailed on every Ha-Ha except the second one, which means more than 20,000 Ha-Ha miles, during which time I was on duty herding cats virtually 24 hours a day.

Given my status as the Grand Poobah, I feel that I have a responsibility to advise everyone that I don’t know how much longer the Ha-Ha can continue. And that it’s even possible that this year’s Ha-Ha may be the last.

To set things straight, I absolutely love the Ha-Ha. From writing the bios, to running the nets, to being a pied piper at the parties, to pitching at Turtle Bay, to seeing the smiles of achievements on the finishers in Cabo, to getting shy people dancing at Squid Roe, to egging participants on in the Here to Eternity Kissing contest, and all the other stuff. I live for it.

With over 12,000 sailors having done the Ha-Ha, it’s become an international sailing legend. I’m so proud of it, and just as much so of all the fabulous people who have done one or more Ha-Ha’s and who are now spread out all over the globe. So loving the event is not the issue.

I’m also still in great health, so that’s not an issue either. Nor is the participation of Profligate’s great core crew. Everybody is rarin’ to go for years to come.

No, the thing that would stop me from going forward with the event after this year is finding myself in a position of responsibility for things that I have absolutely no control over. When you’re young, that kind of stuff doesn’t wear on you so much. But when you’re 75, it keeps you up at night.

The Mexican government has been our dear friend all these years, and at times has even given the Ha-Ha monetary support and/or special dispensation. But authorities and policies change, and while branches of the Mexican government are continuing to work with the Ha-Ha, the Ha-Ha path isn’t as smooth as it once was. At some point the path might become impassable or the event have to be recreated in a tortured form.

I am vain to the point where I’d rather let the Ha-Ha slip into history if it can’t be the great event that it always has been. My attitude is do it right or don’t do it at all.

If the Ha-Ha had to be re-imagined in a form unacceptable to me, the only two people I would consider passing the name on to are Patsy Verhoeven, who has been the Assistant Poobah for the last 15 or so years, during which time she’s done every Ha-Ha; and Dona de Mallorca, who has done 25 Ha-Ha’s. While both are absolutely indispensable to the running of the event, neither one of them has any interest whatsoever in becoming the Poobah in a re-imagined event.

Sell the event? Out of the question.

I want to emphasize that I’m not stating that this is the last year of the Ha-Ha, but I am giving a heads up that that is a possibility. I hope it’s not the last because there is nothing more fun to do in the world the first two weeks of November than a Ha-Ha.

But if you want to be absolutely sure you are going to be able to do a Ha-Ha, this is the year to do it. If you can’t, keep your fingers crossed for 2024 and beyond. My fingers will be crossed along with yours.

Thank you for understanding.

Richard Spindler
Grand Poobah