(Live here) – If you look towards Haifa Bay now, you will see a huge production by Haifa Sailing – hosting the prestigious “Israel Cup” competition in which 160 sailors are competing for places on the Israeli team. We are with the sailors and the Haifa Sailing production staff on the competition routes. The view is spectacular and exciting. The young sailors combine physical ability with complex tactics in a southwesterly wind of 12 knots.
Arnon Dagan – Haifa Cruise Manager:
Our sailors are strongly featured in the International Optimist model. In the 29er model we are the only club that owns these sophisticated boats. The production is a huge production that includes security personnel, medical evacuation, judging boats, lots of coaches and 160 boats.
The sailors go to sea
the production
Dozens of volunteers, including parents of the sailors, participate in the production. Haifa Sailing Chairman Lior Alfasi sails a motorboat between the courses and distributes food and drinks to the volunteers. Alfasi says that this is a record day for the club and that it was preceded by long weeks of planning and preparation.
The routes
The International Optimist sailors compete on the southern course, closest to the Pacific coast. These are the younger sailors, ages 9-12.
On the northern course, laser sailors and 29er sailors compete.
About the Sailing Competition
A sailing competition is conducted on a course that includes several buoys. The entire course is triangular in shape. The sailors launch from a starting line between the judging boat and a buoy. From the moment of launch, the sailors are focused on several factors and try to maximize their speed as well as the optimal angle to the wind. The wind changes from moment to moment in angle and strength.
The winning sailors are those who manage to sail the boat at the highest speed and also plan the sailing course at the optimal angle to the wind. They turn the boat according to the tactics, every time the wind direction changes. The cruise lasts about fifteen minutes or more, during which the sailors work at a high heart rate and are also required to have good muscular endurance for a long time.
On a competition day, two to three cruises are held along the way. Therefore, the sailors are required to maintain a continuous level of concentration and high physical fitness for several hours at sea. What appears from a distance as a pastoral sight of white sails is actually a tough battle on the water, with the sailors and coaches trying to achieve the best result.
The results
The results are gradually accumulating. On Friday, three jumps were held. Three jumps are also planned today, Saturday. We will publish the results here after the competition ends.
Haifa Cruise, you are an empire. Much appreciation to the lovely children and no less to the parents who accompany the activity. The field deserves more public attention and resources.
Stunning❣️
I hope that the Haifa Municipality will not stop this beautiful activity either.
Jonah will find a way to take property taxes from them on the surfboard area in the water