Haha Bound

I arrived in San Diego on Friday to begin my Baja Haha Adventure.  Checked in and immediately hit the docks to start knocking on hulls.  This will be my 5th trip down the coast to Cabo with the Haha fleet.  I head down to the marina and there are at least 1000 boats in front of me.  Each Haha boat displays a red burgee so the boats should be easy to find.  The first thing I notice is there are not many Haha boats here.  In years past, this is where there were 30-40 boats.  I asked around and it seems there is a bit of a boating boom going on and there is very little slip availability this year.  I hit all the boats I could find (about 20 boats), and no one needs crew.  On Saturday, I move around abit and find 20 more boats.  Again, no luck.  I hang with my buddy Chris that night, who is also down looking for a ride.  Sunday I am up early and at the skippers meeting to greet all the skippers on the rally.  Each one of the 130 skippers goes by me and my sign and again no bites.  Now I am getting worried.  After the meeting, a gentleman approaches asking about my availability.   He has a young wife and child and needs help.  I am his man!  We agree to meet on Monday morning and I have found a ride.  So happy.  My friend Chris does not get so lucky.  We depart Monday at 11am.  I will update the blog when I arrive in Cabo on about the 6th of November.  Haha here we come!

The cruise consists of three legs.  San Diego to Turtle Bay (about 300 miles) Turtle Bay to Santa Maria (another 300 miles) and finally Turtle Bay to Cabo (about 150 miles).  After each leg, there are beach parties and more.  The boat I am on this year is a 42' catamaran named Avalonte.  Bon voyage, indeed!!!

Hurricane Patricia Set to Pound Mexico

Later today, Hurricane Patricia will make landfall in the area of Puerto Vallarta as the strongest hurricane ever recorded.  With wind speeds at 180-200, this category 5 storm will cause much damage and destruction, as well as loss of life.  There is another hurricane east of Hawaii that is well out to sea but could turn towards the Mexican coast line. 

These storms could cause a delay to the Baja Haha.  The rally starts on Monday.  It is the largest organized migration of boats on the west coast.  I plan to head to San Diego today and try and get on a boat.  We will see what happens.  The good news is we will not depart if there is any potential of a storm hitting the fleet.  Pray for our neighbors to the south and fair seas to all Haha bound boats.

It ain't Frisco!

Here is a look at the finale of the America's Cup World Series in Bermuda.  It includes a crash with a judges boat.

Bermuda - The ReviewFor anyone who missed the action this weekend, here is Matt Cornwell with a summary of all the action from Super Sunday at America's Cup World Series - Bermuda
Posted by Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing on Monday, October 19, 2015

The crash...

 The judges boat is under the bow.  This was a two day regatta that got shortened to one day due to lack of wind.

Baja Haha Bound

Heading to San Diego to hopefully join a boat bound for Cabo San Lucas this weekend.  This will be my 5th 750 mile trip down the Baja Peninsula.  This will be my 4th time trying to find a ride on the weekend of departure.  Crossing my fingers.  The voyage consists of three legs, San Diego to Turtle Bay (300 miles approx.), Turtle Bay to Santa Maria (300 miles again) and Santa Maria to Cabo (about 150 miles).  At our stops we have some great parties and fun.  This year, there are about 130 boats and 450 fun loving folk.  Last year we hit the topside of a hurricane and had some of the best and fastest sailing ever! I am looking forward to the adventure.  I will post a blow by blow of the trip upon my return on November 7.  Wish me a bon voyage!



This vid is from a fellow Haha'er coming into Cabo.

Pics You Like

Music Map

Found a cool site you should check out.  It's called Music Map.  It helps you discover new artists that are similar to the ones you know and love.  I typed in Tom Petty and you can see the results below.  Pick an new artist or two and head to Spotify and discover the related artists and enjoy the show.  You can also use this site for movies and lit.  Now go have some fun here.

Heading to Charter - Grenadines

Just booked a 43' monohull for an adventure in the Grenadines.  We will pick the boat up in San Lucia and sail to Grenada.  In between, we will encounter some of the most beautiful islands on the planet.  Five lucky sailors will be joining the crew for our sojourn in early February.  This will be my fourth charter (BVI, Sea of Cortez and Belize).  I can't wait to hit the high seas with friends.  Wish me a bon voyage!

Meanwhile, in Poland...

Today is the biggest boating day of the year in San Francisco!  Each year, the Navy pulls out all the stops and showcases the pride and professionalism of our armed forces.  Ship parades, stunt flying, air races and the grand finale...the Blue Angels.  This precision flying team is truly amazing.  They do flyovers over the bay and the boating community jams the water ways in appreciation.  I have been to a dozen or so of these shows and I am looking forward to today's show.  We have 7 crew heading out for a day fun in the sun.  Winds should be in the high teens and gorgeous.  Watch out for the other guy on the water!



Head to the 12:30 mark for the start of the show.

Air Show
12:30 PM – 4:00 PM

12:30 PM
U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team
12:45 PM
U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Demo
1:00 PM
Ace Maker T-33
1:15 PM
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Extra-330 flown by Matt ChaPMan
1:30 PM
Red Star Pilots Formation Team
1:45 PM
Michael Wiskus and the Lucas Oil Air Show
2:00 PM
Patriots Jet Team Formation Demo
2:30 PM
United Airlines 747 Demo
2:45 PM
Sean Tucker’s Team Oracle Pitts Special
3:00 PM
United States Navy Blue Angels

25 Biggest Moments of our Watery Planet

Found this cool site from the BBC that breaks down the biggest moments in the history of our planet.  Fascinating stuff.  Check it out
here.

Foils are the Future

Down in Cancun soaking up some rays.  We swam with a few dolphins and one tidbit came out of the info we received, dolphins evolved from a wolf that lived in a swampy area ions ago.  Over a long time period they evolved into the water mammal we know and love.
Getting ready for a sail to see the Blue Angels with some fellow water lovers back in SF.

New Pics

Below is a waterfall in Yosemite that when the sun hits it as it is setting, turns the waterfall "on fire".

Below is a picture of Pangea (300 million years ago) before the tectonic plates started shifting the continents to where they are today.  Pretty cool.  it was surrounded by a world-spanning ocean called Panthalassa.  Plates can move as much as one inch per year.  When you realize that California and Australia are 7,500 miles apart today...that is a long time period!  Also, take a look at where Brazil is and to the right is Nigeria.  When looking at a world map, those continents are 4000 miles apart today.

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Bad Day on the River

Boater/Beater/Bitch from Brian McPherson on Vimeo.

Hope you all  had a great summer!  Mine was awesome.

Just Cuz I'm Happy

Had to share this one from SA!  Full screen and volume recommended.

Cool Navigation Tool

My Haha buddy John and I headed to the ballpark with a very pleasurable sail across the bay.  After the game, the winds were up a bit so we sailed under the Bay Bridge on a reach towards Angel.  We put up both sails for the sail home and it was a nice off the wind run to the barn.  Great day and very clear with lots of cotton ball clouds to the east.  Our last sail to the game of the year.