Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Lebanon - sailing takes the heat out of neighbour Syria's problems

by Daily Star/Sail-World Cruising on 1 May 2012
Welcome to Lebanon - there’s plenty of sailing happening SW
So you thought that the refugees fleeing Syria, the bombings and the desperate plight of those left behind would be mind-gripping for the nearby countries? Who could even dream about something as hedonistic as sailing? Apparently Lebanon can, and is.

The coastline of Lebanon, which stretches along 225 km of coastline and neighbours troubled Syria, is spread with sailing boats and their owners, who are, according to the local 'Daily Star', enjoying 'cool salt-air breezes, warm sun and a rainbow of Mediterranean blues.'

The Lebanese Yacht Club and Sailing School (www.lebaneseyachtclub.org), which sits on a pebble beach just south of Batroun, is for people who are not content to let someone else captain the boat. There aren’t luxury boats, tennis courts or even a marina, but the club is perhaps the best and most beautiful place to learn to sail in Lebanon.

Experienced instructors teach students, from children to seniors, the basics of sailing, from knots to water safety. Students jet across aquamarine and navy water aboard dinghies, including the Laser, the Optimist (for kids), the Hobie Catamaran and the Laser 2000. Instruction is one-on-one and seven-hour courses run at $350. Dinghies are also available for rent on an hourly basis and windsurfing courses are offered too.

Aside from the rescue boat, none of the crafts is motorized, which provides a bit of respite from the constant noise of jet skies and yachts at other beaches and marinas. Since the crafts are powered only by the breeze, instructors must wait for Goldilocks conditions with winds neither too strong nor too weak.

The winds start being really good in June and into July, according to Ryan Assaf, who’s been teaching at the club for four years. But waiting for the right winds has its own perks: 'If there isn’t wind, you can swim or lay on the beach,' says Assaf, pointing to the grass umbrellas and lounge chairs.

In late summer, the yacht club, which has roughly 100 members from across Lebanon (membership is $100 annually), hosts the Laser Sailing Championship, an exciting competition for participants and spectators alike.


Wind is not as big a concern down the coast at the marina of the Automobile et Touring Club du Liban (www.atcl.org). The club was born in 1919 though the modern marina came much later. It now boasts roughly 11,000 members – most of whom hold more than one nationality – and offers much more than a place to a park a boat.

The club sits on the edge of Jounieh, wedged against a naval base, and has views of the bay as well as the steep, emerald hills of Harissa. Well-heeled members, including leaders in politics, diplomacy and business, can take advantage of tennis courts, an Olympic-size pool and an expansive lawn, as well as five restaurants. But the marina is at the heart of the club.

There are motorized yachts and yachts with tall masts. Some look like pirate ships with old-fashioned wooden wheels, while others seem right out of a hip-hop music video.

'Including small, medium and very huge, there are around 450 boats,' says Naaman Khoury, the marina manager. The largest of the 'very huge' is 35 meters, he adds.

Naaman says yacht owners often travel south down the coast, stopping near Raouche or Beirut Marina.

While there’s no beach to speak of, part of the marina has umbrellas and lounge chairs and an area of the water is cordoned off for those wanting to take a dip.

If the goal is boating that comes with a beach, there’s Jiyeh Marina (www.jiyehmarina.com), which sits between Beirut and Sidon. The marina, which opened in 2006, doubles as a full-scale resort and touts itself as family-friendly, both in its pricing structure and activities.

The offshore marina is accessed by a bridge and can accommodate over 100 boats. Back on dry land, there is a spa, restaurants and pools, and the soft sand that the south of the country is known for.

Back up in the north, there’s La Marina Joseph Khoury in Dbayyeh (www.lamarinajk.com), which opened in 1998. The club associated with the marina, Club La Marina, offers numerous activities, from ping-pong to Zumba, but the marina is serious about boats.

Some of the boat owners are Lebanese but many are from elsewhere in the Middle East and preparations at the full-service marina are under way for the boating season, which kicks off in earnest this week. The marina currently holds around 440 boats and can accommodate yachts up to 54 meters long.

But the height of luxury is found at Beirut Marina, which opened 10 years ago. Seventy-five percent of the mooring area accommodates boats of more than 25 meters, according to a spokesperson.

There are altogether around 200 spots which can accommodate yachts from 4.5 meters to 65 meters and only four are currently vacant.

The cost of mooring depends on the size of the boat, but for those looking for a place to park their 65-meter-vessel, money is not likely to be a concern. Owners include Lebanese as well as expats from the Middle East and further afield. Many boats are owned by companies registered abroad.

Beirut Marina does not currently offer rentals or sailing lessons but makes the most of its urban surroundings and there is plenty to do ashore. Zaitunay Bay, the commercial area surrounding the marina, launched last year and construction is under way for a yacht club building which will feature about 40 apartments for sale in addition to around 10 serviced apartments reserved for members and their guests.

Perhaps the greatest attraction of Beirut Marina is that even if yacht-ownership is out of reach, the views of the yachts are free.

Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTERBoat Books Australia FOOTERVaikobi 2024 December

Related Articles

America's Cup entries open on Sunday
A Cup in turmoil - has Grant Dalton dodged a bullet with the new Cup organisation? Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton appears to have dodged a bullet with the formation of of new AC organising body.
Posted today at 4:19 am
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta day 1
Ideal conditions for starting the Southern Wind RendezVous and Trophy The 2025 edition of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta, organised by the YCCS with the support of title sponsor Giorgio Armani, got under way right on time today, 28 May 2025 at 11.30 a.m. on the waters off Porto Cervo.
Posted on 28 May
America's Cup Power Plays
And Growing Sailing Through Learning There's always so much speculation and intrigue in-between each edition of the America's Cup. Everyone wants to know what is happening behind closed doors, inside the teams, and when the Challengers meet with the Defender.
Posted on 28 May
2025 is going to be a huge season for IMOCA
Antoine Mermod talks about the season ahead Over the next four years the most exciting monohull class in world offshore ocean racing will take on no less than 17 races, covering tens of thousands of miles of the world's oceans.
Posted on 28 May
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup.
Posted on 28 May
Increased Crowds and Unrivalled Showcase
At 2025 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show The 36th annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) has once again cemented its status as the Southern Hemisphere's premier marine event, drawing an impressive 45,865 visitors over four spectacular days from 22-25 May 2025.
Posted on 28 May
CYCA team to take best shot at the Admiral's Cup
The Australian flag will fly proud on Zen and Back 2 Black The Australian flag will fly proud on Zen and Back 2 Black during the Admiral's Cup to be held in Cowes from the Isle of Wight from 17 July - 1 August.
Posted on 28 May
Doyle Sails: Ragtime blends retro and modern
Launched in 1966, Infidel now Ragtime Sailing, has celebrated her 60th year with a refit Tina Roberts has beautifully restored Ragtime Sailing in honour of her late partner's wishes, choosing Doyle Sails not only for the world-class sails but for the depth of experience, personal commitment, and collaborative support that define the team.
Posted on 28 May
The Ocean's Logbook amplifies global voices
A digital survey that looks beyond cold statistics to capture real stories A powerful new campaign designed to capture the world's emotional connection to the ocean is being launched today ahead of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France in June.
Posted on 27 May
SP80 kiteboat reaches a top speed of over 58 knots
100 km/h barrier is smashed in Leucate The SP80 kiteboat has reached a top speed of over 58 knots, or 108 km/h. This new personal best makes SP80 the second fastest sailboat ever recorded, behind Vestas Sailrocket II and its 68.01-knot top speed.
Posted on 27 May