going on the HaHa for more than a couple of years as we were prepping, a LOT of them all talked about the safety in going in the group. We did not go on the HaHa as we wanted to stop along the way. When we listened in on the radio check-in's (a couple of years one we were out) we heard more than a couple of boats in trouble or broken and in each instance, they were told to call Boat assist from the US. That safety seemed to be that you would get picked out of the water if needed, but not much more than that.

We have good friends that have done the HaHa more than a few times. Each time they enjoy it and that is great. It's super that you did it, and had fun! But I stand my ground on why many (NOT ALL) do the HaHa.

We also stopped in a couple of places the HaHa stopped in. In Turtle Bay, more than a month after the HaHa the town was still hurting from all the stuff sucked out by the scores of cruisers that had that GREAT party there. We also stopped at Cedros Island, and a few small bays along the way as we wanted to do more than just zoom on our retirement cruising. We got to know many locals along our path. Had a very fun time with the Harbor Master in Cedros! He drove us all over the island, he asked why so few cruisers stop there! and we talked about over a few meals. We had dinners in peoples home, not at a party on the beach with 100 other Americans.

We were actually on our way out to the South Pacific when we had our family emergency. Sort of took the wind out of our sails. Because of that, we felt we had to be in court many times over a couple of years, so that stopped us. We kept Guen in the Sea for a time and drove back and forth. We managed to go to the South Pacific, just not on our own boat and it looks like we will not take her there, I just keep getting older no matter what I do.

We just finished up cruising in the SF Bay & Delta as an "old home" visit. Next, New Orleans to Florida, them maybe the Bahamas? Just not sure yet. We are also looking at the Med.

I DO consider you a cruiser. You have taken long trips in the open water and that's something to be proud of. Ours were smaller, but just as much fun. In the Sea, we may not have been out of sight of land for more than a couple of days, but more than a few times we spend more than a month without seeing another cruising boat or, weeks on end not going ashore. We sat out 3 hurricanes, 2 on our anchor, and one in a marina.

Greg
By the way, during our stay in Mexico, we had NO cell phone coverage and seldom had Internet. We depended on our HAM & Sailmail. We were lucky as the emergency call came in when we were in a marina!