Sunsail is the world's leading sailing holiday company
with bases in 23 countries across 29 exotic cruising
destinations.
Often referred to as the original Garden of Eden, the
Seychelles boasts stunning white beaches, seductively
warm waters and endless sweeping bays.
Sunsail Seychelles offers bareboat and skippered yacht
charter holidays in this ‘paradise on earth’,
which has over 100 islands - almost half of which are
set aside as national parks, nature reserves and protected
areas.
Enjoy sailing through some of the most beautiful
waters and lagoons in the world with a Sunsail Bareboat
Yacht Charter holiday. We have a fleet of luxury yachts
and catamarans to suit all group sizes and budgets.
Explore exotic international cruising destinations with
a fantastic choice of Social Sailing Rallies that combine
a record number of laydays with exhilarating sailing
action!
Charter a Sunsail yacht and experience the thrill and
fun of competing in a social or competitive Sailing
Regatta from one of our many exotic international destinations.
The Sunsail Seychelles yacht charter base is located
in Port Victoria, the capital of Mahe. Mahe is the largest
of the Seychelles' islands, fringed with more than 50
beautiful beaches.
Base Facilities:
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telephone/fax
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tourist information
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Public bathrooms and showers
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dock water and fuel
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ice
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weather forecast information
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internet facility
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garbage disposal
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gas
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money changing facilities
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laundry
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nearby restaurant & bar
- BBQ facilities
To get to the Seychelles base, fly to Mahe International
Airport in Port Victoria.
Mahé is the Seychelles’s principal airport
and receives flights to and from many international airports.
Air Seychelles, the national carrier, flies, at least
once weekly, between Rome,London, Paris, Zurich, Mumbai
Indid, Johannesburg and Singapore aboard their two 767s.
Emirates services the Dubai-Seychelles connection, while
Kenya Airways provides flights between Nairobi and the
Seychelles.
It is important that clients reconfirm International
flights at least 72 hours before departure. Reconfirmation
can be done from the airports, from any large hotel and
from the Sunsail base.
On arrival in Mahé, clients are transferred from
the airport to the Sunsail Seychelles yacht charter base
by taxi. If clients have not prebooked a Sunsail transfer,
taxis are available at the airport. To find the base,
clients will need to ask for the Inter Island Quay in
Victoria. It is recommended clients take a taxi as it
is the cheaper and more cost effective option for them.
Transfer via taxi to the Sunsail base is approximately
25 minutes.
Set in the Indian Ocean four degrees south of the equator
and a thousand miles east of Africa, the cruising area
of Sunsail Seychelles stretches from Mahe, island home
of our yacht charter base, and encompasses all its surrounding
islands, up to Bird Island and Denis in the north.
Bird Island
Situated some 65 miles north
of Mahe, this is the most northerly of the main outer
island group and home to
a myriad of bird life. With turtles, white sandy beaches
and sparkling clear blue waters that are perfect for
swimming and snorkelling, Bird Island is the ultimate
island hideaway.
La Digue
The beaches of La Digue are among the most photographed
on earth, with huge granite rocks rising out of the white
sands. Seclusion and tranquility reign supreme here with
oxcarts and bicycles still being the main form of transport.
You can take walks along the wide beaches, past a colony
of giant tortoise, or rent a bike and find the perfect
place for a picnic.
Mahe
Your journey into paradise begins on the island of
Mahe. Our newly relocated yacht charter base in the capital
of Port Victoria has a sun terrace, shaded awning and
an air-conditioned briefing room. Port Victoria has several
restaurants, art galleries, craft shops and a colourful
market from which to stock up your provisions. Mahe is
the largest of the islands and is the economic and political
heart of the Seychelles. Fringed with more than fifty
beautiful beaches, the interior revels in lush vegetation
from rainforests and coconut palms to cinnamon plantations
and a 3000ft mountain range. Take a hired jeep into the
hills for an unforgettable view.
Praslin
Twenty-five miles away, Praslin is home to the
very distinct coco de mer palm, which grows in the Valle
de
Mai National Park - also the habitat of three of the
rarest birds on earth, including the black parrot. With
its tropical forest, wealth of wildlife and stunning
secluded beaches, Praslin is the perfect place to relax
for a few days, swimming, snorkelling, fishing or diving
among the coral reefs. The smaller surrounding islands
are very close, so you can sail lazily from one to another
and take time to explore.
No official qualifications or licenses are required
to charter a yacht or catamaran in the Seychelles.
However, Sunsail does insist that at least one
member of your party has sailing experience to
Level 4.
Level 1:
Handling a yacht under motor, basic wind awareness,
mooring and anchoring skills and/or flotilla
course at a Sunsail Club or Sailing School.
Level 2:
Handling a yacht under sail, reefing, reading a
chart, line of sight navigation, competent at
bows to and stern to mooring.
Level 3:
As above plus previous skipper experience on flotilla
holiday or equivalent experience. You will need
to be competent of handling a yacht in close
quarters and picking up a mooring buoy in varying
conditions. Passages are longer with more varied
conditions and stronger winds.
Level 4:
More taxing sailing areas where extended coastal
experience is beneficial. RYA Day Skipper or equivalent
experience, you should be able to:
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handle
longer passages cope with tides and currents
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call on navigation and pilotage skills
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know your position at any one time
Seychelles does not have a summer and winter season. The
seasons are called the wet and dry season, or the SE or
NW monsoon, respectively. Seasons tend to be predictable,
although there may be inconsistencies as they change from
one to the other.
The climate is pleasantly tropical with temperatures
between 24 and 29° C. Rainfall varies from island
to island the northern islands generally being drier
than Mahé. Throughout the year it is daylight
between 0615 and 1830.
The hottest months are March and April when temperatures
can reach up to 31°C, with July and August the coolest
months at around 21°C.
The seas are rougher between May and October. Annual
rainfall is 2215 millimeters a year, sunshine averages
7 hours a day, and the maximum recorded wind gust is
56 knots.
North West Monsoon (Oct to Apr)
The NW monsoon brings more
short sharp showers, particularly in November and January,
and wind speeds of force 2 to 5
from the NW. The cool onshore breezes makes the climate refreshing.
Temperatures are stable and usually in the region of 29°C.
The direction of the prevailing wind means that the anchorages
on the north and west coasts of the islands are exposed and
unsafe, at this time, as well as uncomfortable due to the
swells. Clients should therefore anchor on the south and
east coasts of the islands or in sheltered bays.
South East Monsoon (May to Sep)
The dry season, or the SE
monsoon, takes place through May to September with the
coolest months from June to October.Hours of sunshine are
longer and the temperatures ranges from 24 to 28°C with
lower humidity.
The direction of the prevailing wind means that the anchorages
on the east and south coats of the islands are exposed and
unsafe, at this time, as well as uncomfortable due to the
swells.Clients should therefore anchor on the north and west
coasts of the islands or in sheltered bays.
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