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We represent people who enjoy aquatic sports (such as wind surfing, kite surfing, wave surfing, diving and more) and who have fought for the preservation of “Bat Galim” beach and for the transfer of the Haifa Marina plans from Bat Galim to the area near the Haifa port.
We believe that Bat Galim beach has an unfulfilled, yet great potential. We are trying to persuade the municipal and national planning bodies to plan and set up an extreme sports park in Bat Galim, which will attract national and international tourism. We are convinced that the city of Haifa will benefit from the development of Bat Galim beach. The carefully planned area, by making use of the natural resources on site (wind, waves, wild coastline, and nature reserve) will make Haifa residents proud of their city. Many organizations support the preservation of Bat Galim beach as an extreme sports park. These organizations include environmentalist and nature preservation organizations, as well as surfers and are supported by the Ministry of the Environment. The residents of Haifa also support these plans according to recent surveys. We ask for the cooperation of all who are interested in order to promote our ideas and to carry out our plans. Any kind of help would be appreciated. Comments and ideas would be welcome. Contact us: savebatgalim@gmail.com
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General: BatGalim Beach is located in the city of Haifa, in northern Israel. The beach is considered Israel's finest Windsurfing/Kitesurfing beach, and boasts some of the best wavesailing conditions in the eastern Mediterranean region. The beach (Also known as "Rosh Carmel Beach") is the only one in Israel which faces north, resulting in sideshore winds anytime the wind direction is from the West (about 80% of the year). In addition to the direction of the wind, its strength is increased by the proximity of the Carmel Mountain to the seashore. The third feature which makes this beach so special is a deep reef that runs along the beach, and creates perfect waves on almost any given swell direction.
Wind and Waves: Generally considered one of Israel's windiest locations, the beach enjoys wind year round. Because of the beach's special features, the wind is usually 3-5 knots stronger then any other spot along Israel's 110 Km shoreline, and the direction is usually Sideshore. The prevailing wind direction is SW so the sailing is usually port tack.
Even though we don't have proper wind statistics yet, here is a general summarization wind stats according to the different seasons:
Winter:
(Dec through Feb)-the beach's Hot Season, with the best Wavesaling
conditions: winds from 20-40 Knots, Storm-generated swell from 1-4
meters.
A winter day in Bat Galim
Spring:
(March through May)- storm are possible, but the predominant winds
are easterlies that blows hard and cold, and provides flat off-shore
conditions for slalom and freestyle sailing. Summer: (June through August) is hot and moderately windy, with sea breeze that blows every day from 10-15, in a velocity of 12-18 knots. Waves range from 0.5-1.5 and are great for aspiring wavesailors.
Autumn:
( Sep Through November) is relatively calm and windless and the
beach, but great northerlies blow frequently and offer great
blasting conditions, just 3 Km south at the southern Beaches of
Haifa. The Spots: The beach is 1/5 Km long, and can generally divide into 4 different spots: "Machon", "Knesi'ya", "Hagalshanim" and "The Casino "Machon" (meaning institute, named after the Oceanographic institute) This spot is adjacent to the Oceanographic institute, on the most western tip of the beach. The beach consists of a small sandy stretch that allows convenient (albeit somewhat crowded) rigging and launching of kites. The entrance to water is Via a small gap in the reef and even though it's not dangerous it can be quite tricky to launch on high wind/ big waves day and sometimes painful due to the rocky bottom. After launching it is best to sail strait out without heading up/downwind. The reef if quite shallow and works on almost any given swell direction, even when the reef in front of the "Galshanim" beach isn't. the waves break in a bowl like shape which is very good for jumping and on the proper wind direction also epic for Off the lips snaps and slides. This is the best spot to sail when the wind is blowing from the south (in this case, the rest of the beach suffers from a wind shadow). When the waves get higher the sailing becomes experts only and most sailors will head down to "Galshanim" Beach.
A windy Day in the "Machon"
"Knesi'ya" (Meaning Church- because there is a small chapel located at the center of the beach): This spots starts east of the "Machon" and stretches all the way to the "Galshanim" beach, and is the best spot for kitesurfing because it has a lare, open space for launching and recovery of kites. Another reason for this spot being so popular among Kiters is that the windsurfers tend to sail either at the "Machon" or at the "Galshanim" Beach, thus living a wide empty space for safe kitesurfing. The entire beach is rocky and shallow so booties are a must. Once inside the water the sea state is calm and waves rarely exceed 1 meter height. This spot also works great in big days when either the "Machon" or the "Galshanim" are to big and offers peeling waves for countless bottom turns and aerials.
The "Church" beach
"Galshanim" beach (Meaning the Boards beach): Situated under the tip of the Carmel Mountain this is the best spot for wavesailing in Israel. The sailors enjoy a grassy rigging area, small sandy beach a little wind shadow on their way out. Once past the windshadow (100 Meters) the party begins: a rocky deep water reef turns every feeble swell into a well shaped wall that peels slowly to left, for great button turns, slides and aerials. Because the reef is situated approximately 150 Meters from the beach sailing on big days is relatively safe- if anything goes wrong you simply drift gently back to shore… this also provides ample space for improving sailors to sail safely during storms, and, most importantly, gives time to gather speed for soaring jumps…. This is where the annual "RedBull Stormriders Classic" contest is held- now a regular stop on the PWA tour. This spot has a different side as well- when the wind blows from the opposite direction the water becomes smooth and inviting for slalom and freestyle sailors.
"Galshanim Beach" The Casino Named after an ugly unfinished building, destined to be a Casino one day, this part of the beach is not recommended for novice sailors as the waves break close to a rocky shoreline and they tend to be quite heavy as well.
The "Casino" Beach
The Backdoor Not for windsurfers but it is certainly the best wave surfing spot in Israel. Due to the bay structure during the biggest storms in the winter it is the only place in Israel which surfing can be done. The swell here turns around with the bay and have a perfect break on the reef. This spot is small and very crowded in such days.
The "Backdoor"
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