Egypt blamed for 'ruining' Med-Red Rally

by Event Media on 25 May 2008 Eleven yachts set sail from Tel Aviv on 11 May as part of the Med-Red Rally sailing event, during which they were meant to pass through Egypt's Suez Canal. However, Egyptian authorities delayed the yachts for over a week at Port Said, eventually forcing the disappointed yachtsmen to turn back without completing their long-awaited journey.

The Med-Red Rally is considered the largest sailing event in the Middle East, and this year marks its fourth anniversary.

The 2008 rally set sail from Tel Aviv on May 10th towards Port Said. In Port Said the rally split with the options of continuing down the Suez Canal to the Red Sea, or staying in the Mediterranean and sailing to Alexandria with the Mini Med Red.

All yachts were to return to Herzeliya marina and continue with the Rally to Girne, Northern Cyprus and along the coast of Turkey from Finike to Marmaris.

It's a true expression of the concept of a 'sea without limits’. Only a sporting event of this magnitude can bring people together for a shared experience, which transcends national boundaries and cultures.

The support the rally receives from all countries and marinas it visits on the way is immense. The main aim of the Rally - apart from the obvious benefits that the participants enjoy - is to promote yachting tourism along the route and bring the marinas to the attention of the international yachting community. Even more importantly, the local authorities have now realized that yachting tourism has reached their doorstep.

However, this year it was not to be, owing to the problems encountered in Port Said.

According to the yachtsmen, Egyptian authorities refused to allow them to pass, citing various excuses. 'Every day they gave us different excuses,' said Commodore Izzy Swisa. 'Once it was a large ship that was passing, another time it was heavy traffic... I believe those were just pretexts, and the only reason was that I was Israeli, which is too bad.' Swisa was the only Israeli participating in the segment of the sailing event passing through Suez. The other yachts came from various countries worldwide. 'The goal of the event is to encourage naval tourism between Israel and its neighbours,' Swisa explained. 'But unfortunately this year the Egyptians decided to dampen our spirits.' On Tuesday the Egyptians finally granted the sailors permission to sail, but unfortunately only back to Israel.

For more information about this story: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3545788,00.html