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More Than 200 Sailing Vessels to Take 750-Mile Cruise from Shelter Island to Cabo San Lucas

Friday, 22 October 2010
Contact: Marguerite Elicone: (619) 686-6222

More than 200 sailing vessels, ranging from million dollar yachts to modest boats, will begin a 750-mile voyage from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas in the 17th annual Baja Ha-Ha Cruiser's Rally.

The race will begin promptly at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 25, 2010 when the boom from the official America's Cup shotgun signals a five-minute warning. Following that, two more shots will signal a two-minute warning and the official start of the race. Jorge Gamboa, Director, Mexico Tourism Board Los Angeles; Captain Thomas H. Farris, USCG, Captain of the Port of San Diego; and John Bolduc, Chief of the Harbor Police will take turns firing the shots. Another special guest of the rally is Maria de los Remedios Gomez Arnau, the Consul General of Mexico in San Diego.

View Slideshow from 2009

After the vessels depart near the tip of Shelter Island, they will head down the Baja California peninsula, making stops in Turtle Bay, Bahia Santa Maria and Cabo San Lucas. The entire trip takes about two weeks.

"Baja Ha-Ha started out as a way to sail to Cabo San Lucas safely and to make some great friends along the way," said Ken Franke, President of the Sportfishing Association of California. "Over the past few years, the goal of the event has evolved to promote not only recreational boating and sportfishing, but to highlight the many boating opportunities in both San Diego and Baja California."

Since its inception, the Baja Ha-Ha has attracted about 7,000 boats from all over the West Coast and as far north as Alaska. It has become the largest offshore sailing event on the west coast and the second largest cruising rally in the world.

"The race is an economic benefit to Port of San Diego tenants," said Sharon Cloward, President of the San Diego Port Tenants Association. "Participants fill up the marina slips, use our hotel rooms and dine in our restaurants."

In addition to boosting business for Port marinas and tenant businesses, the race promotes tourism in Baja California. When the fleet arrives in Mexican ports, participants and locals celebrate, adding economic impact to those areas.

The Baja Ha-Ha rally is open to all boats over 27 feet that have been designed, built and maintained for open ocean sailing. A minimum of two crew members with overnight and offshore experience must be on each vessel. The event is sponsored by Latitude 38, a sailing and marine publication based in Northern California.