Weatherly Sailing Adventures
On the last 4 miles of the Suez Canal, an injector fuel line ruptured and I had to slow the boat down so the excess vibration did not damage the engine mounts and escalate the problem severely.
Luckily the pilot said he wouldn't tell the authorities, or we'd be up for a $500 towing fee. I gave him some good baksheesh (present of money and cigarettes), but he still complained about the level I'd given, but that is usual for pilots so I ignored his moanings.
Reluctant to stay in Port Said to fix the problem there, due to the filthy anchorage and exorbitant fees, I decided to press on straight for Israel. The engine still functioned at low speed and we had plenty of wind.
On approaching Ashkelon, where I'd booked the marina for the following night, we were approached by several threatening looking Israeli warships, with 2 men manning huge cannons directed at Weatherly. I complied (of course) on radio and provided crew and yacht details requested and they promptly vanished as fast as they had approached. We were forced to tack out around an oil platform, which added 30 miles to the trip and meant we had to miss Ashkelon that night. We sailed in to Tel Aviv marina early the next morning.
Security was very tight everywhere in Israel, and I learnt that the previous day, helicopter gunships had bombed a missile launch sight on Gaza beach, only 20 miles from where we had sailed, hence the orders to turn us out to sea around the oil platform. My crew and I were interrogated separately by some very gorgeous looking young women in the Israel Security force and then the Marine Police.
I didn't know much about the country apart from it's politics and the conflicts there, but loved my visit. It was refreshing to be back in the clean, comfortable 1st world again even if it was relatively expensive compared with the Red Sea countries.
I took a trip inland to Jerusalem and bumped into my friends Will and Emma from 'Zachariah' and they took me to a great hotel right inside the walls of the old city. I stayed several nights and explored the city on foot. I met some young students who showed me around on their day off university.
It was amazing to see so many holy places and imagine the events which shaped the city and 3 of the world's major religions.
It is a beautiful city too, with highly decorated, and some very simple, religious buildings, all made of white rock. The Old City is surrounded by a massive rock wall with several huge wooden gates, such as Jaffa Gate, which I had a view of from my room's balconey.
Back to Tel Aviv on a local bus, I had a few days to gather stores, walk on the beach and enjoy some night life. There was a free dance club on the beach which many Israelis were joining in - it looked fun, fast and good exercise, and all the dancers were very fit. In fact everyone seemed to be very fit and healthy in Israel, I guessed it might have to do with the physical military training everyone serves for 3 years.
Even a night club/bar I went to had 2 young military guys sit down either side of me wearing powerful rifles. Maybe I looked suspicious or something, so I chatted away to one to ease any fears.
My navigation seat broke on the way to Israel, so I hunted for a foundry to make a new swivel base sturdier than the old plastic original. I met a funny arts/advertising director, who designs and makes props for television commercials and who took me to an aluminium workshop to get my job done.
I visited his backyard where a ballarina in pink frock was holding hands with an old-fashioned photographer, both trwirling around on a small carousel while another photographer was taking pictures.
Also in the backyard amongst an assortment of weird but creative props was a tricycle. When pedalled it turns a cement mixer barrel painted in pink and white patches, and plays a musical tune while the cyclist eats popsicles from a basket on the front. Interesting place and people. We laughed that the reason I came to Israel was to fix my seat and after that I would be returning to Australia.
We checked out on a Sunday and waved farewell to the cute marine policewoman who interogated me on the first day, but seemed very relaxed once through with the questioning.
A pleasant onshore wind was blowing, allowing us to cruise along the Israeli coastline with a few other yachts passing back and forth. I gazed at the sunset over the cliffs north of Tel Aviv, musing on the country and people I'd met.
Then we tacked, and headed off to Cyprus.
