200 Yachts to Set Sail From Shelter Island to Cabo San Lucas in Baja Ha-Ha Event

Friday, 21 October 2011
Contact: Marguerite Elicone: (619) 686-6222

Nearly 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 18th annual Baja Ha-Ha Cruiser's Rally.

The boats will begin their journey at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 24, 2011 at the tip of Shelter Island.

A blast from the official America's Cup shotgun will signal the start of the rally.

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 is a great way for sailing enthusiasts to get together and enjoy the recreational opportunities in San Diego Bay and south of the border," said Ken Franke, President of the Sportfishing Association of California. "Each year, the event attracts new sailors from all over the West Coast."

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 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.

Media boat available: News media are welcome to view the start by boarding the 90-foot sportfishing yacht Dolphin at the Harbor Police station on Shelter Island. The vessel will depart promptly at 9:15 a.m. and return at 10:40 a.m.

The Port of San Diego has 21 marinas as tenants on San Diego Bay. Many vessel owners from these marinas participate in the Baja Ha-Ha event. The Port of San Diego is a provider of recreational opportunities on San Diego Bay and promotes boating and other water activities.

The Port of San Diego was created by state legislature in 1962 and is responsible for $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities: Imperial Beach, San Diego, Coronado, Chula Vista and National City.

The Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 17 public parks, the Harbor Police Department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.