Cruising Info on Israel ?

[multihullsailor6]

I am thinking of sailing to Israel, crossing from Cyprus and have started the planning process.

Is there any up-to-date cruising information / cruising guide available? The Red Sea Pilot's edition 2 seems to be the only pilot book covering this area but stems from 2002.

I have checked
- Noonsite
- Cruising wiki
- Med-sail
- Jimmy Cornell's World Cruising book
- Blackled (googled) it
- Imray
but apart from very basic information I have not been able to increase my cruising knowledge.

[skipmac]

Have visited by land and want to go by boat in the future. From what I could see and from speaking with locals, there is not much more to learn on the cruising side than what you have seen in noonsite etc. The coast line is pretty straight, the only harbors or marinas are the ones you see in noonsite so no deserted anchorages to visit.

Security felt very good while I was there. If you rent a car I would be careful not to wander into the wrong zone, but otherwise no worries.

I have friends there if you have any specific questions.

Skip

[boatman61]

Clear it well before hand or you could find 30 Commando's absailing into your cockpit...
and you thought it was only Somalia...

[Ylevite]

Israel is basically very long and thin. Cruising wise it's doesn't have any special features (except the red sea which is spectacular but way around the other side, via the suez canal).
The best way to enjoy israel is to stop at a port, hop off for land excursions, carry on to the next marina, hop off etc... Being a tiny country, with an okay public transport system, you can plan day trips to all the attractions and be back on the boat by nightfall, or you could go for longer land trips.

Pm me if you need any help.

Yaron

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Yaron.

The Ashkelon Marina ➥ http://www.ashkelon-marina.co.il/
600 berths in water depth of 4m - 6m.
Ashkelon, Israel
31° 41' 12" N x 034° 33' 16" E

Herzliya Marina ➥ http://www.herzliya-marina.co.il/
Herzliya, Israel
32° 09' 56" N x 034° 47' 34" E

Marina Tel Aviv ➥ http://www.telaviv-marina.co.il/
320 Docking spaces.
Tel Aviv, Israel
32° 05' 12" N x 034° 46' 06" E

[swagman]

I can only advise that Askelon entry is very shallow and narrow, we found the Israeli sailors we met very helpful and welcoming - but the authorities treat everyone with suspicion.

We sailed the coast both ways with the East Med Rally in 2006 and the Israeli Defence Force ensured we only sailed daylight hours in their territory using fast patrol boats (which you can't pick up on radar) and far ranging shore based radar to track us from first approach right through to final departure.

When underway down and up the coast we were not allowed inshore except down 90* corridors to and from the four ports we visited, only relaxing that and allowing us to cut a corner when we had a problem resulting in a late night arrival into that tricky harbour entrance.

Also be aware if you go further south, there is a gas platform almost directly off the border with the Gaza Strip......its not on any chart we got hold of........ but suspect if you get near it you'd have patrol boats all over you.
:-)

Enjoy
John

[goboatingnow]

suggest you contact the secretary of the East Mediterranean Yacht rally. They have been bringing boats to Israel for years

E Mail : info@emyr.org
Skype Name : farukgunlu
Mobil : +90 532 543 14 69
Phone : +90 252 382 92 00
Address : D-Marin Turgutreis Marina
Zip Code : 48960 - Turgutreis - Bodrum / Turkey

Dave

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by swagman

Also be aware if you go further south, there is a gas platform almost directly off the border with the Gaza Strip......its not on any chart we got hold of........ but suspect if you get near it you'd have patrol boats all over you.
:-)

Enjoy
John

Know about that one, helped put the platform in place a few years ago.

Only other advise on Israel is to keep a very good VHF watch for the Defense Forces, they dont like to be ignored