The 68th Cities Cruise has come to an end: Nearly 300 sailors sailed from Haifa to Ashkelon

(Haipo) – The 68th Cities Cruise came to an end on Saturday, October 3, 2026, after two days of sailing competition along the coast of Israel, from Haifa to Ashkelon. The competition was attended by nearly 50 boats and about 300 sailors from all over the country. The chairwoman of the Carmel Yachts, Ayelet Sharir, summed up the event and noted that this was much more than a regular sailing competition.

A challenging cruise that connects people from all over the country

The city cruise is an OFF SHORE type competition – a long and challenging cruise that takes participants out of their comfort zone, as explained by Carmel Cruises Chairwoman Ayelet Sharir. According to her, the cruise invites a wide variety of people of all ages, places, and backgrounds. Sharir emphasized that the cruise connects participants with the Land of Israel, and that the people who participated this year are "definitely the beautiful face of the country." Among the participants were also young sailors, who contributed to the good spirit and competitive atmosphere that characterized the event.

Months of preparatory work and thanks to volunteers and supporters

Behind the two days of sailing stood weeks and months of strenuous preparations. Members of the Carmel Sailing Community management and the volunteers who accompanied the event were present at every stage – from organization, transportation and set-up to real-time problem solving. Shreir thanked in particular the members of the management and volunteers, led by Yohai Pelzur, who has been organizing the cruise for over two decades. Special thanks were also extended to Energian for its contribution and support along the way, as well as to the marina managers and crews who assisted in mooring the vessels professionally. Shreir concluded her remarks by noting that "cruising is about boats, the sea and competition, but what makes it a valuable and meaningful event is the people."