SoCal Ta-Ta, 12; Baja Ha-Ha, 104

As it stands now, and as expected, the number of paid entries for the SoCal Ta-Ta — 12 — is running well behind that of the Baja Ha-Ha — 104. That’s a good thing, since the Ta-Ta can only accept 40 entries due to berth limitations in Santa Barbara.

The Ta-Ta, aka Reggae ‘Pon Da Ocean’, aka ‘Baja Ha-Ha Lite’, which runs from September 10 to 16, starts at Santa Barbara and finishes at Two Harbors, Catalina. It features stops at Santa Cruz Island for two nights, Channel Islands Harbor for one night, and Paradise Cove for one night.

The event starts with reserved berthing (not included in the entry fee) in Santa Barbara, a free dinner on the beach at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club and features free berthing for as many boats at possible in the Channel Islands Harbor for the free BBQ there, as well as the potluck BBQ at Buffalo Park at Two Harbors. All skippers and first mates will also be welcomed aboard the mothership, Profligate during one night of the event. There will be event burgees and other swag for all entrants.

A lot of Northern California sailors mock the sailing conditions in Southern California, but the reality is that the wind can be excellent between Santa Barbara and Catalina. In all but one year, the tight reach from Santa Barbara to the east end of Santa Cruz Island has been a sweet sail. Because the Ta-Ta fleet leaves Santa Cruz Island for 16-mile-distant Channel Islands Harbor at 10 a.m., that’s usually a relatively light leg. Historically, the run from Channel Islands to Paradise Cove is breezy, although last year it was a light-air cooker.

Some of the best sailing we’ve ever had in Southern California — indeed anywhere in the world — has been in the Ta-Ta on the 33-mile leg from Paradise Cove to Two Harbors. Time and again after a bit of a slow start we’ve had 15 to 17 knots of wind in relatively flat seas under bright sunshine. Those are sweet close reaching conditions — probably the best you can get. 

The thing that tickles the Grand PooBob the most about the 12 Ta-Ta entries so far is that 75% of them have done the Ta-Ta before. That suggests that it’s a people-pleasing event. So we hope that you can join us this year. Entry details can be found at www.socaltata.com.

We’ll have more on the October 29 to November 11 Baja Ha-Ha soon, but Dun Workin, Kenneth Roetzel’s Endeavour 40 from Charleston, South Carolina, recently became the 100th paid entry. Last year’s entries topped 180, so the Grand Poobah is expecting at least 150 entries this year. We can hardly wait, but the Ta-Ta first.