Indian Ocean, Inner Islands
The Seychelles are a catamaran destination: granite islands 4 to 25 NM apart, turquoise lagoons, giant tortoises on Curieuse, and a base at Eden Island on Mahé fifteen minutes from the airport. No cyclones, two seasons, and a fleet that is almost entirely catamarans and skippered charters.
YACHT TYPES
Catamarans 40 to 52 ft, most with skipper and hostess; a few monohulls; crewed motor catamarans.
A typical week from Mahé
The inner islands sit in a triangle: Mahé, Praslin and La Digue with the small islands between them. The loop is short in miles and long in anchorages.
Day 1, Eden Island to Sainte Anne marine park (2 NM). Buoys off Moyenne or Round Island for the first night, ten minutes from the base.
Day 2, to Praslin (25 NM). The crossing to Baie Sainte Anne or Anse Lazio; the Vallée de Mai's coco de mer palms are a taxi ride away.
Day 3, to Curieuse and Saint Pierre (3 NM). Giant tortoises on Curieuse, snorkelling at the Saint Pierre islet, the buoys in Baie Laraie.
Day 4, to La Digue (4 NM). Anchor off La Passe, cycle to Anse Source d'Argent, the most photographed beach in the islands.
Day 5, to Grande Soeur or Félicité (5 NM). Private-island anchorages with day-visit fees, clear water, few boats.
Day 6, to Mahé (25 NM). The return crossing with a stop at Sainte Anne before the marina.
Two-week crews add Silhouette and the north of Mahé; see our Seychelles itinerary.
Practical points for a Seychelles charter
Skippers and licences
Bareboat is possible with a recognised licence and a sailing CV, but the majority of charters are skippered, often with a hostess who cooks; the reefs, the buoy rules and the local knowledge make the skipper worth the cabin.
Seasons and wind
The southeast trade winds blow from May to September at 15 to 25 knots with chop on the crossings and some exposed beaches unusable; the northwest monsoon from November to March is lighter and wetter. April and October are the calm transitions with the best visibility. No cyclones this far north.
Fees and moorings
Marine park fees per person on Curieuse, Sainte Anne and Cousin, buoys in the parks, anchoring restricted on coral. Provisioning at Victoria before departure; imported goods are expensive, local fish and fruit are not.
Getting there
Mahé airport is 15 minutes from Eden Island, with direct flights from Paris, Dubai, Doha, Istanbul and Addis Ababa. Charters usually start the day after arrival.
Skippered or bareboat?
Skippered for most crews; the price difference is small relative to the charter and the reefs are unforgiving. Bareboat suits experienced crews in April or October.
What does a week cost?
Catamarans start around €4,000 to €6,000 in low season for the boat alone and rise steeply for crewed yachts in December and at Easter; we quote live availability.
Is one week enough?
For Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and the small islands, yes. Silhouette and the north of Mahé need the second week.
What does Seeksail need to advise us?
Dates, cabins, skipper and hostess or not, snorkelling or sailing priority, and the budget; we answer with three catamarans from Eden Island and a recommendation.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
More destination-specific guides are being prepared.
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