The Cariad Adventure - Baja Ha-Ha Leg – Page 1

(Updated: 11/8/03)

This page has been superceded by Paul’s report on page 2, but I’m leaving it in for background.

According to the ‘Lectric Latitude reports, there was enough weather to make it interesting for a 60-foot yacht so it doesn’t take much imagination to see that life could have been exciting on a 38-footer like the Cariad.

There are un-confirmed reports that the weather was rough enough to cause Kosta to loose his glasses overboard; we don’t know if he lost his lunch at the same time……(see Paul’s trip report to find out what really happened).

Here are some text-only extracts from the Latitude 38 site before they roll out of view:
(Get there before they disappear and you will find quite a few nice photos).

"Photos of the Day: Baja Ha-Ha

November 3 - Bahia Santa Maria, BCS

This report on Baja Ha-Ha 10 was transmitted from the committee boat, Profligate, while at sea via her onboard Globalstar phone.

It's now Monday, and all but three of the more than 100 Baja Ha-Ha 10 boats have finished the 240-mile second leg from Turtle Bay to naturally spectacular Bahia Santa Maria. The leg started on Saturday with 10 to 12 knot winds and completely flat seas. The sky was blue, the air and water were warm, and it was just a couple of knots of wind short of being perfect. Seeing 100 boats, most of them flying chutes, strung out along this desolate and uninhabited part of the coast was really something."

"About 0200 on Monday, while the early finishers were catching up on sleep after sumptuous fresh fish meals, the wind predicted by Commanders Weather forecasting filled in, with wind up to the mid-20s and seas to 10 feet or more. Two boats reported gusts of 44 knots, but some folks were skeptical. While a lot of crews got fatigued and beat up a little, there have been no serious problems.

The wind was blowing all the way down the coast, and by this morning it was blowing in the mid-20s at Bahia Santa Maria. Fortunately, the protection is excellent and the holding terrific. About the only beach activities today are climbing the the nearby hills for views of the majestic bay and Mag Bay in the background. It's not a big deal, as most of the crews, having had to resort to shortened sail, are catching up on sleep.

After a lay day Tuesday, the last leg of the Ha-Ha, to Cabo San Lucas, starts on Wednesday. It looks as though there will be as much wind on the third leg as there wasn't on the first leg, but we'll have to wait a couple of days to be sure."

And for Nov 6:

"November 6 - Bahia Santa Maria, BCS

As the Baja Ha-Ha 2003 fleet approaches Cabo San Lucas, this report was sent to us via our onboard Globalstar satellite phone.

Leg Two of this year's event was one of the best ever in terms of steady winds. Most boats arrived at Bahia Santa Maria some time during the second night after leaving Turtle Bay. While crews rested safely on the hook in the expansive bay, however, the wind piped up to 30 knots during the wee hours of the morning and continued to blast all the next day. Unfortunately, it was the smallest boats in the fleet which got caught in the heavy blow as they struggled to reach the shelter of the bay. At least one broached, and several others finally arrived with leaks they'd never experienced previously."

And for No 7:

"November 7 - Bahia Santa Maria, BCS

Today's photos of the day are of the beach party in Bahia Santa Maria. The photos were sent via our onboard Globalstar satellite phone. The fleet has arrived in Cabo San Lucas, and Monday's report will feature coverage of the festivities there."