History

The Baja California Maritime Net started in 1966 as "Kate’s Navy Net" by Arthur Kates, (WB6BOK) nicknamed Admiral of Kates’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 group of guys from Southern California. They chatted with each other every morning, sharing stories, and sometimes passing traffic back home for 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. As time passed ham radio caught on among the cruising boaters. Within five years or so the ranks of the Baja Net grew considerably. The Mañana Net cropped up on 20 meters and the Baja Net stayed on 40 meters to handle the increasing traffic.

In those days the only way 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 all but disappeared due to the Internet and mobile phones. There is still quite a bit of other traffic though, and the net continues to thrive.

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