DOWN MEXICO WAY
Getting ready for the Baja Ha-Ha
The Baja Ha-Ha is a high point of the West Coast cruising calendar. Each year, at the end of October, around 150 boats make the 750-mile voyage from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with stops at the small Mexican settlements of Tortuga Bay and Bahia Santa Maria. This popular southbound rally spans two weeks and is a convenient start for cruising the Sea of Cortez. Most boats continue on to La Paz or Puerto Vallarta. A few return against the prevailing winds and currents, fondly known as the “Baja Bash.”
For many West Coast sailors, the Baja Ha-Ha is their most ambitious offshore passage. The Baja peninsula is rugged and remote. You need to prepare for offshore conditions ranging from days of flat calm to 25 knots of wind with gusts to 30. I joined the 2014 Ha-Ha on my Tartan 3500, Intuition, after some intense preparation, and have twice crewed on other boats. Here’s what I’ve learned after three Baja Ha-Has. PREPARATION: You could easily spend several months preparing your boat for this adventure, familiarizing yourself with each onboard system and correcting the problems you identify. As you work through your boat, ask yourself, “What would happen if?” and prepare for those scenarios.
If your standing rigging is more than 10 years old, having a rigger inspect it will provide valuable information and peace of mind. Be sure to plan ahead, as riggers’ schedules often fill up prior to big events.
Go over all the deck gear and make sure it’s in good working order. Replace any frayed halyards or sheets, and have spare line on board. It is also a good idea to clean and lube your winches, lube all blocks and mouse all the shackles with seizing wire to prevent them from opening.
The return journey from Baja—the notorious “Bash”— will reveal any weaknesses in your engine and fuel system, in particular. Therefore,
be sure to change the fuel filters and make sure you know how to bleed your engine. Open the inspection ports on your fuel tank and look for sediment. Any growth could become dislodged in rough seas and block your fuel system. Clean your tank or have your fuel polished.
You’ll be using your anchor, ground tackle and windlass whenever you stop, so make sure your anchoring gear is up to the task. Anchorages along the Pacific side of Baja are usually good (20-30ft deep, sandy bottoms and well protected). Service your windlass, grease the shaft, gypsy and clutch assembly. Check the electrical wiring and the control switches. If you’re not familiar with anchoring, practice with your crew.
Make sure water can’t find its way into your boat. Seal the mast collar with a waterproof boot or tape (or both). Portlights and hatches are other areas where water can work its way in. A good going-over with a hose should reveal any leaks that may not have been apparent in the mild Southern California climate. Be prepared to replace portlight gaskets and rebed them where necessary.
Well in advance of such a voyage, it’s wise to take your sails to a sailmaker for inspection and repair. Look for frayed stitching and worn sailcloth. Be familiar with reefing your main and make sure the lines are led properly. You may want to rig preventers to control the main and protect against unintentional gybes. Also consider a boom-brake.
The Baja Ha-Ha is usually a downwind run where a full spinnaker is often the best choice. For deep reaching, an asymmetrical spinnaker may work best. Otherwise, you will probably want to pole out your genoa with a spinnaker pole or whisker pole.
As you progress south toward Cabo San Lucas, you’ll be happy to have suitable shade from the increasingly hot sun. A dodger and bimini are nice to have—most would consider them essential.
Finally, you’ll need a dinghy and a reasonably powerful outboard motor. The Baja Ha-Ha Bahia Santa Maria beach party requires landing your dinghy through moderate surf. Alternatively, the local fisherman are happy to shuttle folks in their pangas for a small fee.
Lastly, be sure to have the Mexican courtesy flag, U.S. flag, Baja Haha burgee and any yachtclub burgees properly displayed. SAFETY: Deck safety is a key concern, and you should install jacklines, with strong attachment points through-bolted with backing plates. Inspect your lifelines for proper tightness and replace them if there are any frayed or corroded wires. Consider replacing any “split rings” with seizing wire and wrapping with tape.
There’s no limit to the amount of safety gear you should carry. Be sure each member of your crew has a lifejacket with harness, LED strobe, whistle and tether, and preferably a personal locator beacon (PLB) and/or AIS MOB. Have a horseshoe buoy with strobe, man-overboard pole and a heaving safety line available. Attach SOLAS safety reflector tape to all safety gear.
Your insurance company may require you to carry an EPIRB. The prices for these have dropped substantially over the years, and they can also be rented. The Garmin InReach or Spot™ Tracker satellite communicators are wonderful safety devices that provide tracking and two-way text messages and/or SOS alerts.
Have current safety flares or a USCG-approved electronic distress light onboard. Note that the USCG Auxiliary advises a flare gun could be considered a firearm, which is illegal in Mexico. If you have a liferaft, stow it in a location that is readily accessible in the event of an emergency. Prepare a ditch bag with your EPIRB, signaling mirror, handheld VHF radio, GPS, food and water. Be sure to include suntan lotion, any personal medications and spare eyeglasses. SPARE PARTS: Storage space on sailboats is often limited, so it’s a judgment call on how