Iftach Kozik from Tashoot Yacht Brokerage sails a new Beneteau First 50.
Tashoot is one of the longest standing and most established companies in the marine industry in Israel with 25 years trading behind it. Founded in 1984 by the highly respected Mr Aran Neumann, Tashoot operates in the Eastern Med, as well as globally, and is a leader in yacht sales and charter and sole representative for major yacht manufacturers such as Beneteau, Lagoon, Tayana and local Zodiac agents. The active used yacht sales department is headed up by director, Iftach Kozik, who deals with the local market and Israeli boat owners selling to overseas clients, and working worldwide with all flags and nationalities.
With a 273 km coastline, Israel has a thriving marine industry. The city of Eilat, with its commercial port and marina sits in commanding position on the northern shores of the gulf of Eilat in the Red Sea.
Born in Israel third generation, forty-year-old Iftach lives on a yacht in Herzliyya Marina, fifteen minutes north of the metropolis of Tel Aviv. He was born in this coastal city and was manager of a diving team that helped construct the marina thirteen years ago. He started his marine life as a professional/commercial diver and for eighteen years worked with salvage companies, oil rigs, commercial fishing and underwater marine aquaculture before moving on to the world of sailing and the marine industry. Over the last few years he has been an integral part of Tashoot Yacht Brokerage working with second-hand boat sales. We talked to Iftach to find out more about the industry and Israel as a sailing destination.
Kibbutz Michmoret is a small harbor in the north of Israel.
How big is the marine industry in Israel?
The yacht industry in Israel is relatively small with a few thousand vessels. However the industry is continuously and rapidly growing as several new marinas have been constructed along the Mediterranean shore. The number of yachts being sold in Israel is constantly increasing as are the relative yacht sizes. This is true both for motor and sailboats. There is a small marina in Eilat and international commercial port in the Red Sea where sailing has been less popular although most of the vessels that go through the Suez Canal find themselves calling in at Eilat.
Where do most of your sellers and buyers live and where do they use their boats?
The yacht trade in Israel is entirely international and is characterised by Israeli customers who purchase vessels outside of Israel and foreign customers who find attractive deals in Israel and arrive to purchase boats here. Other interactions are local and involve both Israeli sellers and buyers.
The most popular sailing area in Israel is the Eastern Med and includes Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Italy and up to the Med coast of France. Many Israeli sailors, and many sailors from all over the world, are also familiar with the Red Sea and regard it as an attractive cruising, diving and sailing area. Sailing has significantly developed in recent years with establishment of the Med-Red rally which has become quite a popular rally in the sailing world.
What type of craft do you specialise in?
My main specialty is in used sailing and motor vessels. Most of the work involves the “mainstream” manufacturers including Beneteau, Jeanneau, Hunter, Lagoon Catamarans and Dufour. Nonetheless, many of our customers are interested in high quality yachts such as Hallberg Rassy, Amel, Moody, Tayana, Grand Soleil and others. Our expertise is to locate such vessels around the world and analyse their value with respect to their condition, age and location.
If you had to sum up your company’s philosophy in a sentence, how would you do it?
The two main terms that are at the core of the company’s daily activities are professionalism and reliability. I want to emphasize that this is also my statement, and one that I adhere to not only in business but from a life perspective as a person – they are my core values.
Herzliya marina is the biggest marina in Israel, 25 minutes from Tel Aviv and 55 minutes from Jerusalem.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of buying a boat in Israel ?
The purchase of a boat is all about individuality. You need to work through methodically, carefully defining your requirements and wish list and work with professionals to achieve your goals. Finding the right boat for the right buyer is 50 per cent a material decision and 50 per cent an emotional decision. With that in mind you can move forward to find your perfect boat.
Can you describe Israel as a cruising area for yachts?
Israel is a very attractive region for tourism and is a short cruising distance from the Greek islands and the Turkish coast as well as the Red Sea, the world-renowned cruising and diving area to our south. We have several modern marinas as well as operational ancient ports and marinas in Acre, Caesarea, Jaffa and Ashkelon. The marina locations provide an opportunity for excellent short sailing distances along the Israeli coastline and safe overnight anchorages. Furthermore, being a small country, the central tourist attractions – Jerusalem, Beth Lechem, the Dead Sea, etc – are all nearby
Can you let us know about any problems that foreigners might have cruising Israeli waters?
Israel is small country and the cruising area is very safe and it is a fantastic place to sail. I know that news from Israel can be bad but most of it is media driven and everything here is peaceful and quiet. It is a lovely place for cruising.
Can one leave a boat safely in a marina for any length of time?
Yes. The modern marinas in Israel provide high-level services at highly competitive prices. We have quality facilities as most modern marinas worldwide – dry docks, travel lifts, serviced pontoons and it is a good place to winter your boat, and cheaper compared to the rest of Europe. It is divided into two different price levels, less in the north and south while in the centre it will be a little more expensive.
I can highly recommend Israel as a destination to visit, and Tashoot Yacht Brokerage will be please to give any information that any visiting yachtsman might need, and also provide any support services.
For more information and a list of boats for sale, visit the Tashoot listing page.
