Second J/70 Sailing Competition Held in Tel Aviv Marina

The second event in the J/70 sailing league series took place last Friday at the Tel Aviv Marina. This competition, part of a six-race series, aims to integrate professional sailing with the educational and social activities of the Ziv Ne'urim association. Participants included at-risk youth, young people supported by Ziv Ne'urim, and reservists, alongside experienced sailors and professionals.

The "Halafinyo" team, led by Kiril Rechter, secured first place. The "Kavanga" team, led by Ohad Swissa and including naval officers Yair Hadar and Shiko Hershtik from a collaboration with "Migdalor" (an alumni organization of the Navy's officer course), came in second. Third place went to the "Balagan" team, led by Ilya Koblenov, which included reservists 'A' and 'B'.

The J/70 league, a joint initiative by Ziv Ne'urim and the Yam Sailing Club managed by Gal Cohen, seeks to establish a regular competition series for this popular boat class. The league emphasizes teamwork, quick decision-making, communication, leadership, and resilience, using sailing as an educational tool.

The J/70 is a globally popular, fast, and accessible keelboat, approximately 7 meters long, used worldwide for competitive sailing and training future generations of sailors. Ziv Ne'urim, founded by former members of the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit, has been working for over 26 years to prevent dropout and empower at-risk youth through challenging maritime activities. In recent years, the association has expanded its programs to include evacuees, bereaved families, and military personnel, recognizing the sea's potential for personal growth and rehabilitation.