First blog, first few days on the water!
The start was a little bit bumpy with some capsizes in cold water and yet, with a very steep learning curve.
After our first week of sailing we are starting to feel quite comfortable in the boat, tacks and gibes are starting to look half decent (as long as we remember to take our feet out of the foot straps) and most important, we are having fun.

Assembling the boat

The first step of sailing any boat, is managing to put it together (which was not that easy).
We received our 49er in late September. It took us a couple of days to learn the ropes (quite literally) and put it together; make it race ready.
Yes, we have taken the wings on and off a few times but after you do it once you don't forget (at least we hope so).
Lucky for us there are a few very experienced and nice 49er crews in our sailing club and they proved themselves very helpful.
We are now prepared and spending as much time on the water as possible!

Why the 49er class?

The 49er class is the most extreme of all the dingy classes; and is the fastest category in the Olympics. Due to the short circuits there is no room for error. It therefore requires a combination of the highest level of physical fitness, strategy and tactics. As well as the exciting challenge that the 49er provides; we are the first sailors to represent Israel in this category at international level. We look forward to raising the profile of 49er sailing in Israel; and to inspiring the next generation.

Meet the crew!

Skipper

Name: Omer Brand

DOB: 27/04/1981

From: Tel-Aviv, Israel

Current location: Southampton, UK

Best achievements: Representing Israel for many years, coming 4th in World Championships, and being part of a Volvo Ocean Race team.

I grew up surfing and sailing on the shores of Tel Aviv. From the age of 12 I was a regular in the Israel national sailing team, racing the Optimist class through to 420 and Olympic 470 classes. During this time I competed in European and world championships and staged an Olympic campaign for Athens 2004.

Moving forwards from 470 sailing I continued onto the professional 18 foot skiff Grand Prix in Australia. Here I began my professional yachting career; and competed in regattas such as the Sydney to Hobart. Around this time I received the call to move to the U.K to join a Volvo campaign for the 2008/09 edition.

After my time in the U.K. I relocated to Palma de Mallorca, Spain (where I met Bar) and continued my professional racing, competing 

in the TP52 professional circuit and in the Super Yacht circuit all around the world. 

I currently live in Southampton, UK, with my fiance Kerry; and am focusing on our Rio 2016 campaign.

Crew

Name: Bar Halevy

DOB: 10/02/1993

From: Ein-Hod, Israel

Current location: Southampton, UK

Best achievements: 3rd in Spain cup 420, 23rd J80 World championship

I began my way in the sailing world when I was 9 years old in Hapoel Sdot-Yam sailing club where I raced the optimist class and later on the 420 class for a short time.

When I turned 14 my family and I moved to Mallorca, Spain where I sailed 420 and J80 class boats.

Slowly but surely I worked my way up to the top of the Spanish fleet for the past 3 years with a new and determined crew and the help of an excellent coach.

Last year I decided to leave the dinghy sailing (which as it seems, didn't work out) and try my luck in the yachting world.

Doing my way into bigger boats I started sailing with a Spanish J80 team.

Just after the J80 World championship, me and Omer decided that we are going full on to achieve our goal.

Currently I live in Southampton, UK; giving our Olympic campaign all my time and efforts, looking forward to see where it will take us.