9th June – Haifa to Ashdod

Posted at 4:40 AM, Sunday, June 11, 2006

Whilst the location and facilities at Haifa for the yachts may leave a lot to be desired, the spirit of the Mt Carmel Yacht Club has made up for any deficiences.  The way several of the local club members bonded  together to discuss then suggest solutions to our starter motor problems is something one would not see in many other places.

We were concerned about getting it sorted swiftly, as tomorrow was Friday and midday is actually when the Sabbath commences and all  work ceases.  But the locals seemed sure God would allow them a little overtime if they felt it might be needed to sort us out - and away they went.

So one club member (and electrician) verified my diagnosis was correct, and another club member (Biyon – who had owned a electric workshop before he retired) was called up.  Biyon undertook to come down and pick it up from us early on the Friday, and would then revisit his old workshop to see what he could do.

I removed it in the early morning hours, and Biyon collected it at 0930.  He too was a past past rally participant, having done it in 1995.  I was stunned when he returned only 3 hours later with a totally rebuilt starter.  Not a new one - but as good as.  That speed of service allowed us to bolt it back, test it out, trial some things to find the cause (which we think we did) and still get away 1430 - meaning we should arrive in the early morning hours off Ashdod. 

Biyon did it all for 350 euros.  In the UK it would take days - and cost over 500!

Once out and sailing in the very fresh westerly breeze, we began to feel good barrelling south and solo.  T'was like a short break from the rally cruise. 

We needed to cover the 85 miles to Ashdod as quickly as we could as not only does not the Israeli Navy like boats crashing around off their coast at night - we also did not wish to miss the planned tour of Jerusalem starting at 0730 in the morning.

We swooped over the rolling swells to keep up an average of over 8 knots under sail and motor when required.  By 2100 we’d covered 60 miles down the offshore sailing 'corridor' set on the charts when we got within VHF radio range of committee boat Vision. 

They advised that due to the circumstances, the Israeli Navy had agreed we could ignore the normal requirement to stay in the corridor and now angle shoreward across the restricted area on a more direct course to Ashdod marina.  It shaved perhaps a mile off the rest of the journey, and we arrived off the marina entrance half an hour after midnight.  Overall a quick run of 85 miles in less than 10 hours.

The marina entrance at Ashdod would not be easy to navigate even in daylight.  Impossible at night without help. 

The tons of sand, dredged monthly from the big main harbour half a mile north, is apparently just dumped close to shore.  We are told a lot of it is swept south and ends up here – slowly blocking this smaller harbour entry.

It results in an exposed sand bar lies on the shoreward side of the entry on which the swell crashes - forming a confused backwash across whats left of the narrow harbour entrance.  The channel which is very close to the seaward harbour wall, is barely 30 feet wide.  It is buoyed but only by tiny small floating unlit marks.  If no-one had pointed them out – you’d hardly see them - and you'd certainly not believe the crooked path they indicated we needed to follow only feet from the outer harbour wall.

We were very fortunate in being guided into and along this channel by Jim from Windsong and Max the Marina Manager who’d kindly stayed up late to meet us in a well lit RIB. 

It was easy enough for us to follow their dinghy and we finally tied up securely at 0130.

We learnt later that quite a few of our group also stayed up late just in case help was needed to guide us in.  At one stage (before Jim volunteered his RIB), they’d discussed a line of people on the harbour wall using torches to illuminate the small floats.  The committee had even propsed it was far too dangerous for us to try entering at night – and that we should anchor off in the swell until daylight - but we hear our small ‘blue’ group of ten or so skippers shouted down any such idea. 

So the RIB asisstance plan was devised and actioned.  Big thanks to all concerned who may read this.

Must say it’s humbling to hear so many people being worried about us and that they all volunteered to stay up late and help if required.  Its yet another benefit of this rally.

Ashdod is Israels second largest port (after Haifa) and the modern, but yet to be fully completed marina, is situated in front of a high rise residential area not far from the city centre. 

The place itself has a ‘seaside town’ feel to it and the beaches adjacent to the marina look superb.  We did not get much chance to investigate these on Saturday as we were away early hours on our Jerusalem tour (see separate blog entry) but the first impressions of the town centre – which we visited last night for a restaurant located party – was positive.

Our next port of call, Ashkelon, is only 10 miles further south.  So we will not be leaving until midday today and expect the trip to take only a couple of hours.  This morning Sue will possibly beach it.  I’ve a few boat chores to get on with.

I want to repeat my thanks to anyone at Mt Carmel Yacht Club who might be reading this blog, for without the speed and quality of Biyons help, we may well have been taking up space in your marina today. 

And good luck to you all in getting the municipality to improve your facilities.

Cheers

JOHN