October 2009 eBook all pages (free PDF, 36.6 - Latitude 38

Page 48 • Latitude 38 • October, 2009
LETTERS
tax breaks to favored friends wasn't so popular with cities,
states and the federal government. Just the other day Berkeley
— about as left-wing a place as there is in the universe — fell
all over itself rushing to give mighty Bayer $100 million in tax
credits to keep and upgrade its facility in that city. The state
of Michigan has given the most lucrative Hollywood studios
tens of millions in tax credits to film in their state rather than
California. And there is a whole host of states that 'steal' from
neighboring states by having either no state sales tax or no
state income tax.
Given such an uneven playing field for being assessed taxes,
and the number of people in the higher levels of government
who have been found to have outright cheated on their taxes,
it's not hard to understand the reasoning by the people who
own the corporations that own the big yachts.
⇑⇓BOOZERS IN BAJA ARE A BORE
Can you tell me what the policy is on drinking in the Ha-
Ha, both while offshore and at the stops along the way? I'm
a moderate drinker, but I don't like being around people who
drink to the point they make fools of themselves and endanger
themselves and others.
Name Withheld By Request
San Diego
N.W.B.R. — We're on the same page as you, because while
we do enjoy a few cocktails a week, we detest irresponsible
drinkers. Our recommendation for people in the Ha-Ha — and
everybody else sailing — is to not drink at all while underway.
We know some folks will have a glass of wine with dinner, but
we think anything beyond that would compromise safety and
therefore be foolish. While ashore, those who choose to drink
need to do so responsibly, for not only are there more physical
dangers in Mexico — potholes in sidewalks, rickety ladders up
piers, and shorebreaks — but everyone in the Ha-Ha is also
a representative of the United States and sailing. The general
rule is that you should behave in public the way you would
behave in front of your best friend's children.
Once everybody makes it to Cabo, of course, a little celebration
is in order. That's why there's an annual gathering
of a couple of hundred Ha-Ha folks at Squid Roe on Thursday
night for group dancing and, for those who wish, cocktails. It's
usually quite wholesome for the first couple of hours, but once
the younger folks and locals take over, it sometimes gets a bit
more adult. While the large security team at Squid Roe is pretty
lenient, the police on the streets will not put up with noisy or
obnoxious drunks. Misbehave in public, and six serious cops
will jump out of the back of a white pick-up and unceremoniously
take your butt to jail. Unlike cops in the States, they won't
discuss the matter with you, they'll just haul you off. And Lord
help you if you try to resist. We're pleased to say that, despite
all the fun Ha-Ha folks have had in Cabo, we're not aware of
any who have had so much fun that they were hauled off to
jail.
For 15 years the Ha-Ha has been a sailing and social event,
not a drinking event, and we're confident everyone will do their
part this year to keep it that way.
⇑⇓"DOING MY PART FOR THE ECONOMY"
Having done the Ha-Ha last year as a hired gun, I was hoping
to do it again this year with my new-to-me boat. Unfortunately,
it looks as if I won't be able to blow the Ha-Ha staff's
minds with my newest boat until next fall's Ha-Ha 17.
After having some issues with the owner of the boat I sailed
aboard to Cabo, I shut down my yacht repair business and