Baja Ha-Ha Sailing Rally Starts in San Diego Bay

Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Contact: Dale Frost (619) 686-6461

More than 170 sailboats paraded out of San Diego Bay on October 24, 2011, to start the 18th annual Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally that ends in Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of Baja California.

Signaling the official start of the race, Lou Smith, vice chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners, fired a shotgun blank into the air at 10:00 a.m. sharp. He used the official America's Cup shotgun while aboard the deck of the sportfishing vessel Dolphin, stationed near the west end of Shelter Island.

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Vice Chair Smith was among officials from the Port of San Diego, San Diego Port Tenants Association, Sportfishing Association of California and the U.S. Coast Guard who boarded Dolphin to view the start of the rally.

Port President/CEO Wayne Darbeau fired the one-minute warning shot, alerting vessel captains to position their boats for the start of the 750-mile rally.

Harbor Police lieutenants aboard the Dolphin oversaw shotgun starting signal protocols.

"The cruisers appreciate the fanfare and great send-off," said John Arndt, associate publisher of Latitude 38, a northern California-based sailing publication that sponsors the race.

A Harbor Police firestorm vessel made a water display as the cruisers sailed past Point Loma.

Sailors and crew from the West Coast—as far north as Alaska—began arriving here in early October to visit San Diego and prepare the boats for the two-week voyage to Cabo San Lucas.

This means increased business for local marinas, retail marine stores and boatyards.

"The Baja Ha-Ha rally provides a huge boost for waterfront marine businesses," said Sharon Cloward, executive director of the San Diego Port Tenants Association.

The San Diego Sportfishing Association and San Diego Port Tenants Association began the Baja Ha-Ha starting ceremonies in San Diego Bay three years ago to show community support for the event.

"We estimate the Baja Ha-Ha cruisers rally provides an economic impact of one million dollars for waterfront businesses," said Ken Franke, president of the Sportfishing Association of California.

After the boats leave San Diego Bay, they sail offshore of the Baja California peninsula and make stops in Turtle Bay and Bahia Maria before arriving in Cabo San Lucas.

"Baja Ha-Ha is a great way for sailing enthusiasts to get together and enjoy the recreational opportunities south of the border," said Franke.

Since its inception, the Baja Ha-Ha rally has attracted more than 2,000 boats and 7,000 cruisers to San Diego Bay. It has become the largest offshore sailing event on the West Coast and the second largest cruising rally in the world.

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

The Port was created by the 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.