Hillel Sail
Sailors Recommend
Eric Lederman:
When I was asked to write a few words about Hillel, I was absolutely thrilled. Knowing this wonderful and most professional man for 30 years.
We have been sailing with Hillel for more than 20 years both as delivery and a skipper.
It began by a simple delivery from France to Crete, on a 31 footer sailing boat, and continued by full “sailing school” board where, thanks to Hillel, we learned how to really sail off shore.
I cannot even keep counting of the numerous off shore deliveries Hillel has done until today, from our tiny 31 footer to all our other family boats, growing up in seamanship, 'till to our 50 footer today, Hillel being the mentor who brought us from boat to boat into offshore seas.
Hillel is not a regular delivery skipper. His love story with sailing boats is everlasting and endless. when he first meets the boat he is about to sail with, you can immediately see how he relates and establish intimate connections with her. He will live with on her during the sailing and will helm her gently , never pushing , feeling her limits and you will meet both meet happily at the place you have chosen.
Then he will tell you how the sailing went, and how the boat reacted.
Once you get him after the delivery, here she is, after gentle shower and complete was - Because, when Hillel arrives at any place, even after one week of single handed rough and wet sea, it is the boat first, and then he will go and take his shower and rest.
One can learn a lot from him about his own boat for the very simple reason he has sailed them all - new boats, racers cruisers, old timers - Hillel was once a skipper of a gigantic old wooden schooner and I saw him mooring her in a windy marina almost single handed, gently, without usual hystery which goes together with such events.
He is a floating and living sailing encyclopedia; not a place not a single cove he has not visited, just name it and you will be told about permanent winds, currents, wrecks, rocks, mooring facilities and the very place to eat the local speciality. Once there, just tell his name to the locals and it will your most precious open sesame. From Turkish coast to greek Islands, from adriatic to spanish marinas, Gibraltar, Canaries Caribees USA. I defy you to find a place where he’snt sailed yet.
Then you will enjoy colourful anecdotes of encounters, backgammon with Egyptian coast guard officer, as well as chatting in the middle of the night though VHF with sailors, commercial ships and boaties from all over the world.
I have decided to stop this post right here unless I rather decide to write a full book about Hillel. If you want to hear more, then do not hesitate, call him and anchors off!
When we’ve decided to graduate to the “big boys” league and to cross the Atlantic ocean, on 2011, there was no doubt in our minds on whom should lead us in this adventure, and I can tell you you that it was the best decision we could have taken. It began from the pre-trip preparation - the detailed planning, debriefing, course layout. the fact the entire process was in Hillel’s capable hands, along with the profound care, seriousness in his polite and gentle way all along the process. Our transatlantic voyage was amazing and mostly due to Hillel’s professionalism and cool handling.
And, yes, Hillel is a strange mutant creature, half man, half seaman, which I do not understand yet how much sleep is required to keep him awake and in full control of the sail, including cooking. I guess he is the perfect sample of “land -sick “ one can make a study out of…. In so many words, he’s the perfect guy you can have a couple of beers and 1000 miles with.Loud and clear, Hillel must be at sea . He will the show you the way you can live better.
Eitan Lieberman:
I would like to thank Hillel very much for assisting me with the purchase sailing-catamaran Lagoon 380 'Lady Rosaline'.
Your professionalism in the yachting world and special personality, made the process easy and enjoyable.
Looking forward for our next session together.
Amir Langus:
I probably know Hillel for more than forty years.
At early acquaintance I saw Hillel sitting in a competitive sailboat and I was impressed by the many ropes that operate the sails.
Later I worked for Hillel as an instructor at the pioneering private school for sailboats study. Later on I moved away from sailing for my Career and I've heard good about Hillel when he served at reserves duty guiding cadets of Israel Naval Officers School.
Sudden illness stopped my career and I went into a kind of pension. I thought that sailing and Cruising can help me and of course I went directly to Hillel. Hillel was then the director of the Ashkelon Marina. Hillel involved in the purchase of my first 36ft boat and greatly helped in providing advice and comments at the beginning of my sails across the sea. When I haul out my boat at Ashkelon marina I got lot of tips from Hillel. I felt confident to do things myself and if I get in trouble Hillel and his technical network will help.
I got tired from my 36ft sailboat and wonted to level up better boat that can also cross the ocean. I thought to build myself a very unique boat, that its feature are do not exists in the boats market. Hillel was totally against the idea of building – Hillel was right.
Three years have passed and I saw that I was not going to expect the timing and costs. I gave up the idea of building and I went looking for a ready boat that’s stand in most of the feature of the boat I wanted to build. With the help of Hillel, who made me think realistically, we find a boat that was the closest to the “dream” boat.
I asked Hillel lead for searching the boat, assessment, transfer of finances, ownership transfer, flag registration, communication registration and preparing the boat for crossing between owners. Currently I am cruising with a very nice boat and happy from the boat selection and the boat itself.
Amir Shoval:
When I was looking for a boat, I reached out to Hillel. I heard a lot about him, his experience and integrity. After a few talks we built the profile of the boat that’s right for me, we traveled to Croatia together and among the boats we saw there, we found the my dream boat (Salona 45). Hillel ran the negotiation with the seller and we bought the boat for a price that was much lower than this boat’s market price.
I sailed with Hillel from Croatia to the middle east. In this sail and in many more that followed, Hillel taught me how to safely operate my boat and more importantly, how to trust and love this beautiful boat.
I’m consulting Hillel until today when it comes to maintenance, safety, registration and other boat related issues.
I can surely and strongly recommend Hillel!
