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History
of the
Baja Net
The BAJA CALIFORNIA MARITIME NET, also known as "the boaters’ friendly net", started in 1966 as "Kates’ Navy Net" by Arthur Kates, (WB6BOK) nicknamed Admiral of Kate’s Navy Net, and Dr. Glenn Thorpe (WA6FJE) who became Secretary of the Net with other well-known Southern California yachtsmen, Steve Newmark, Mort Miller(W6HEW), Herb Becker (W6QD), Walt Maertins (W6IM), Clinton Stanfield (WB6BNB), Barry Goldwater (K7UGA), Bill Lapworth (N6DEN), Frank Eckert (W6LN), Chuck Haines (WB6AZQ), Ted Henry (W6UGU Henry Radio), Doug Bombard (Catalina Cove) and yachting author Carleton Mitchell (WA3NHV), to name a few.
It began as a very informal net (more of a "group") of guys from Southern California. Some of them were on boats in Mexico and others were getting ready to go. They chatted with each other every morning, sharing stories, and sometimes passing traffic back home for the boaters. Usually, around 8:30 or 9:00, they would move to 20 meters as the band-conditions changed.
Back then, most of the cruisers were not hams; it was a small group. As time passed, ham radio caught on among the cruising boaters. Within 5 years or so, the ranks of the Baja Net grew considerably. The Mañana Net cropped up on 20 meters later in the morning and the Baja Net stayed on 40 meters to handle the increasing traffic.
In those days, the only ways to keep in touch with home were expensive phone calls or ham radio; so there were quite a few phone patches run. Today, the phone patch traffic has declined immensely due to the use of Email via the Winlink system. There is still quite a bit of other traffic, though, and the net continues to thrive.
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