Longtime friend of 48° North and Vashon Island native, Chuck Skewes, has been increasingly involved with the Baja Haha, and he will now be at the center of this beloved West Coast group cruising event.
Of course, Chuck still owns the Ullman Sails lofts here in the Pacific Northwest and in San Diego, and he’s still a co-leader of 48° North’s Cruising Rally as well (August 2-7, 2026, please join us!). But in addition to all of that, he’ll be filling the very big shoes left by the Grand Poobah, Richard Spindler. Knowing Chuck, he’ll thrive in this role with his laid-back positivity and good humor, not to mention his remarkable sailing knowledge that he happily shares with all. Congrats Chuck!
Here’s what Chuck sent in about being named the “Newbah”:
As you may know, the 2025 Baja HaHa was Richard Spindler’s last rally. He decided this after 31 Baja HaHas with anywhere from 45 to 220 boats each year; guiding the fleet down the Baja coast with two stops along the way, and facilitating activities, support, and of course the friendships made and strengthened.
If there was a choice, I would rather that Richard and Dona Spindler could keep doing the Baja HaHa forever, but as we know that is impossible. At some point people have to go to the next stage of their life and pass on the torch of what was once their passion.
That time has come for Richard. I have done 10 Baja HaHas, several of those with Richard and Dona. We have become close friends, and shared wonderful times on boats and ashore in Mexico, San Diego, the Pacific Northwest, and the San Francisco Bay area. We have discussed how the Baja HaHa has brought Mexican and tropical cruising to thousands of people, and educated many on how to negotiate Mexican ports, Mexican culture, and the true joy of cruising in the country.
I am so honored to be chosen as the one to take this great event and keep the tradition alive. Assistant Poobah Patsy Verhoeven, who has been the backbone of much of the Baja HaHa, is staying involved to keep the transition smooth.
I hope to educate the general cruising public on what the Baja HaHa truly is and what it offers. Until I did my first one, I did not truly understand what it was. I thought it was just a party on your way down the coast. After my first rally, I felt that it would be foolish to enter Mexico without being part of the Baja HaHa. It offers not only a guide into this wonderful place, but safety in numbers. Many people have participated in more than three Baja HaHas and still see the value in it.
The event in 2026 is already being planned and I look forward to another great group of cruisers joining us down the coast and experiencing the dream of Mexican cruising. It never disappoints.
I, along with others, will miss the bigger-than-life voice of the Grand Poobah, but we have planned this transition to be as seamless as possible. Get ready for 2026 and the Newbah on the radio. I hope to see you there. Find out more at www.baja-haha.com
