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When Air and Sea Meet

19/7/18

This year, in 2018, the Air Force marks 42 years since Operation Entebbe. Preparations for the events began in late 2017; A small unit in the air force, almost unknown outside the force, began the preparations for the heritage events that are planned to take place. The reservists and veterans of the unit are called upon to help prepare for the events.

Among them, Uri takes upon himself to renew the ties between the veterans of the unit, quietly and with a lot of patience. In the course of the preparations and the and from the renewed contacts between the veterans of the unit, an idea was formed –  to plan a vacation for the unit’s veterans.

 

 

It turns out that among the members of the group are skippers and boat enthusiasts and so a genius idea was conceived – a sailing vacation on Greek yachts! The organizers – Uri, Arik and Toby – gathered to make the idea a reality. In January 2018, 4 yachts were planned for the intended flotilla, for the veterans along with their spouses and children.

 

 

‘Tashut’ company was hired for the task of skillfully locating suitable yachts for the group. The organizing team chose to take a professional skipper to transport the flotilla, and that’s how I ended up in the leading team. The news of the flotilla passed through all the unit’s members, with more and more people joining, their age ranging from 30 to 70. The target date – a week before the 42th anniversary of the Entebbe operation.

 

 

In the month of May the organization was at its peak and there was a feeling of great excitement during the preparatory meeting, the number of yachts increased to six, a total of 52 people. June 16 arrived, and the group boarded a plane to Greece, Athens to embark on a flotilla that will leave a great mark on all of them.

We met on Saturday morning at the airport where the bus was waiting for us, a short pick-up from the hotels and we started with a half-day trip to the Acropolis. We’ll get the yachts in the evening.

 

 

In the afternoon we arrived at the marina for the yachts. Much excitement and curiosity around some of the people’s first experience of a yacht.  People wondered how it looks from inside, expressed fear of nausea, etc.

You could feel the excitement and tension in every conversation. At last the boats were ready, tomorrow morning a few more errands, kayaks, saps and we are ready to go. A late dinner in a family tavern not far from the marina made us forget the fatigue and raised laughter and freshness for the week ahead. A few more participants arrive on night flights to Athens and joined  the team on the decks.

 

 

 

17.6.18 Sunday, 0930, We set out! 7 yachts, 54 people – another yacht is added with the deputy commander of the unit who decided to surprise. A work channel was established in the radio system with we set out to sea one yacht by another; ‘757, Erik’s yacht comes out’, ‘Toby’s yacht out’ and so on.

Greek music in the background and we are on our way to the Saronic islands. Departing to the first destination – the island of Salmina. In the afternoon, the yachts are tied in the bay to one another, close but not too much, saps and kayaks go down to the water, beers and watermelons, and the holiday atmosphere is spreading to everyone – a feeling that you will stay for many days after and leave a huge smile that lingers.

 

 

In the late afternoon we enter a small fishing village where we spend the night. We tie the yachts, people start hopping from yacht to yacht, talking, rejuvenating old and distant relationships, sharing memories, filling up glasses of ouzo while in the background stands  the pastoral fishermen village of Fradika.

A local local Tavera is our choice for dinner – Greek music, a bit of dancing and an amazing sunset in front of us. The group already feels very close and united.

 

 

As night falls, a north wind rises and shakes the yachts. Skippers wake up during the night for routine checks. We meet on the deck of one of the yachts. 03:30 am, We talk about morning coffee, why not, if we are already awake. It was decided to add a rope in one of the yachts. Doron skips between the rocks, slips and injures his leg.

In the morning the medical staff of the flotilla gives him treatment. Initial treatment that will allow the continuation of the week. Doron will receive the full treatment in Israel immediately upon his return.

 

 

Waking up for a second morning, some of us were still awake from the night’s events, breakfast and coffee, shopping at the local bakery and going to the town of Epidebros.

Open sail, wind with us, drinks and lots of good mood. On the way to a town full of history and an ancient Greek cultural center.

A busy day awaits us with a trip to the amphitheater with acoustics considered one of the best in the world, after lunch and beach activities and meals into the night. Tired and happy, they end the day with a small party on Tzach’s yacht, which also makes the passers-by on the platform dance. In Arik’s yacht a wild laugh continues into the night, we go to sleep with tears of laughter and a huge smile.

 

 

As we do every morning, we gather for a briefing on Doron’s yacht, taking some notes about the weather, the docking methods. Today we go to Poros. A small island with one of the largest towns in the area. There, too, a lot of activity is planned and we are excited for the upcoming day. As befits a military organization, we proceed in a gradual manner, one by one we cross the lighthouses of Epidebros. We open a sail and begin our path to Poros.

 

 

 

A fin appears on the horizon, for a moment were are uncertain… A second fin is now right next to us and it’s clear, two adult dolphins have come to visit! Swimming by our side, enjoying the water and smiling.

At noon we enjoy a short stop at a magical bay for swimming, which has become a must during the rest of the trip. Kayaks and saps in the water. Ofer and Katya surprise us with an inflatable flamingo that steals the show.

 

 

After swimming and resting we raise anchors and enter Poros and tie our yachts as close as possible to each other. The town welcomes us with bustling streets and many passers-by. We organize for a folklore evening in a lesser-known taverna, a 10-minute drive from the marina. The bus driver explains the road and soon we arrive at a small, exciting summit. The view is breathtaking – a balcony overlooks the view of the islands from which we came, and a beautiful garden enclosing the place, a live musician playing a tune – just lovely. The group is having a blast, lively conversations, lots of photographs – simply a dream. When the dancers and food come, the talk was abandoned in favor of the dance floor.

At midnight we barely make our way back to the bus. And head down to the marina. Tired, happy, and waiting for the next day for new excitements and surprises.

 

 

Today is a free day on the island of Poros, without sailing. We get up lazily in the late morning. By noon, most of the group’s members are on a ferry to Hydra – one of the most famous islands in the island.

Our short time in Hydra teaches us that each island is so different from the other in its beauty, pace, lifestyle. The group is thrilled by Hydra’s beauty and heads back to Poros straight into an afternoon’s cocktail on Uri’s yacht. An AcroYoga session begins on deck – after all, if there is already a deck full of mattresses, why not take advantage of it? One by one they try their luck in acrobatic exercises and our practitioners who are among the youngest in the group succeed in surprising the adults who found themselves flying in the air and having fun. Indeed a wonderful afternoon.

 

 

Thursday morning, we leave Poros for a solo sailing day.

There is a final destination and each Skipper chooses how to get there. I give a few options for the route. We schedule to meet in the island of Agistri before sunset. The night’s sleep is expected to be a Mediterranean anchorage – a mooring in the bay without a town, in front of hypnotic transparent blue water. At 1700 they all gather in the bay.

Those who do not hold back jump in the water for an evening swim before dinner at the taverna. At 20:00 the tavern’s motorboat arrives to pick us up for a last meal on the islands – a fish meal, of course. A stone balcony on the water, watching an amazing sunset and the place is almost just for us.

The sensations at the height, the landscape-filled eyes, not to mention the fact that tomorrow is the last day. Gadi brings out the guitar, the screen is spread, the projector is connected and we finish with a lively sing along – on a Greek island in a magical bay.

 

 

 

Friday morning – we get up for the last morning and discover that the water is more beautiful than what we saw in the evening. We spend the whole morning in the bay before returning to Athens. A final briefing after which each yacht will leave – back to Athens and the group will begin to disperse on its way back to Israel. At midday we lift anchor and lift sail for the last time. Uri left early morning, Noony stayed a little longer after all of us and we left the islands behind us and headed for Athens, which we left just six days ago.

Full of experiences, saturated with colors and especially happy. We still do not understand how difficult the next few days will be. To return from a week of dream to reality and routine – each to his life and separation from the group.

Personally, I am waiting to see them all next year, a wonderful, unique group.

 

This amazing production would not have taken place without Uri, Arik and Toby – the organizers of the flotilla – the driving force behind the ideas, the organization and the events. An amazing team. Thanks to ‘Tashut’ for organizing the yachts and logistics around the event.

 

Photo: Benny Lapid.

A huge thank you to the professional photographer of the flotilla who is also a veteran for allowing me to use the pictures.

Drone photos: Saifan Weinberg.

The author is Inbal Harari, a head skipper with ‘Tashut’ and owner of SKIPPERIT.

 

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