The 2022 Cruise Underway to Baja Rally (CUBAR) wrapped up on November 13th, with 25 motor yachts completing the 950-mile journey from San Diego to La Paz. CUBAR is organized by San Diego Yacht Club and runs every other year. The all-volunteer CUBAR committee helps participants with customs and immigration for Mexico, provides a courtesy vessel safety inspection, safety and cruising seminars, and coordinates lots of social activities along the way. The 2022 CUBAR kicked off with a send-off party on Oct 28th, with a departure for Ensenada on October 30th. After completing customs and immigration at Hotel Coral Marina, the group was treated to an arrival fiesta, complete with a live mariachi band and bacanora tasting. Getting underway early due to weather, the next stop was at Turtle Bay after a 36-hour run, where a “dine around” allowed boaters to visit other vessels for dinner. The fleet headed next to Magdelena Bay, a 30+ hour run. After two nights on the hook and a great beach party, the fleet departed for the final long leg (20 hours) to Cabo San Lucas for fueling and provisions. The final stop was at Bahia de Los Suenos (Muertos Cove) where an epic party was held at the “Choo Choo” restaurant with an amazing band from Cabo. The warm clear waters and white sand beaches of Muertos Cove let the group know that they had arrived in the Sea of Cortez. After two nights on the hook, the group made the final short hop to La Paz, arriving on November 12th. CUBAR also fulfilled its philanthropic mission with donations of school supplies and fire fighting gear in Turtle Bay, Mag Bay and La Paz. By the end of the cruise, the 125 participants had found lifelong cruising buddies, knew their vessels much better, and were much more comfortable taking their vessels on long overnight passages. For more information, visit www.cubar.org.
Dave Abrams