Sailing the Seychelles

Anse Lazio beach on Praslin Island

Located roughly 1255 miles of the east coast of Africa lay an oasis like no other – The Seychelles. Steeped in white sand beaches, Caribbean like water this destination should be on everyone’s sailing bucket list!

BAREBOAT SEYCHELLES YACHT CHARTER

WHAT ARE THE SEYCHELLES?

The Seychelles Islands are an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, consisting of approximately 115 islands, most of which are not permanently inhabited. Seychelles offer timeless beauty, tranquillity and harmony that is famous for a great natural diversity both above and below the waterline.

CREWED MOTOR YACHT SEYCHELLES CHARTER

WHAT SHOULD I VISIT?

From Mahe, you’ll want to visit the twin islands of Cousin and Cousine, and then continue on to the island of Praslin, home to the Vallée de Mai and numerous world-famous beaches. The island offers numerous safe anchorages along its 18-mile coastline.

CREWED CATAMARAN SEYCHELLES CHARTER

WHEN IS IT BEST TO SAIL IN THE SEYCHELLES?

The Seychelles’ climate is just about perfect – always warm, sunny nearly every day, with no major extremes. The temperature seldom drops below 24°C/75°F or rises above 32°C/90°F. All but the remotest southern islands lie comfortably outside the cyclone belt so there are very rarely storms or prolonged rainy periods. The north-west trade winds arrive during the months of October and March. At this time the sea is generally calm and the weather warm and humid, with average winds of 8-12 knots.

January and February are the rainy season when the islands receive 30-40 cm of rain on average, bringing life-giving water to the islands and rejuvenating the foliage, rivers and streams. The months between May and September bring drier, cooler weather, and livelier seas – particularly on south-eastern coasts – and winds of 10-20 knots.

The table below is a summary of the statistical averages for the Seychelles International Airport from 1972 to 2005. (Courtesy of the Seychelles Meteorological Services).

 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Rainfall (mm)402.6283.2194.9186.7151.6105.176.6119.3154.0189.7206.3302.8
Temperature (°C)26.927.427.828.127.826.726.026.026.526.926.926.9
Relative Humidity (%)828080807979808079798082
Predominant Wind DirectionNWNWNWSW-NWSESESESESESESW-NWNW
Wind Speed (kts)6.36.35.24.97.810.411.412.111.37.95.45.4

The Seychelles

The Seychelles are an archipelago of the Indian Ocean. There are over 100 islands, some volcanic, but most of them coralline. The largest island, where the capital rises, is Mahé.

In The Seychelles there are two sites declared a World Heritage from UNESCO: Aldabra, the largest coral atoll in the world and the Vallee de Mai on Praslin, a very ancient forest believed to be the Garden of Eden.

The Seychelles are famous all over the world for the amazing coral reef, the incomparable landscapes, the crystalline blue water, the white soft sand, and the incredible nature.

This paradise on earth is inhabited by rare and unique wildlife, that every year bring tourists from all over the world. The sea and land turtles are one of the biggest attractions.

The Aldabrachelys is a giant turtle that you will be able to see on The Aldabra Island. These incredible animals survived the evolutionary changes, thanks to the geographical isolation that protected them for millennia from modern predators.

Males can be up to 120 centimeters and weigh around 250 kg. Females can reach a little over 90 centimeters in length and weigh around 160 kilos. They are among the most long-lived animals on the planet.

Besides these incredible land creatures, you will also be able to see sea turtles if you go diving or snorkeling.

There are five different species of marine turtles living in the sea around the Seychelles islands. Alphonse Island, Astove Atoll, Cosmoledo Atoll, and Poivre Atoll are the main destinations where is possible to see these ancient animals in their natural habitat.

These unique animals are used to getting used to seeing humans, for this reason, if you are lucky you will not only be able to see them but also swim with them.

This is only one of the many incredible experiences that this place can offer. The people, the food and the magical atmosphere of this island will make you experience an incredible journey. Seychelle is definitely a place to visit once in a lifetime.