Seychelles - Mahe

Huge granite rocks polished by the waves of the IndianOcean, giant palm trees with their famous “coco de mer” nuts, turquoise inletsfringed by lush green takamakas shading the fine white sand beaches. This isthe paradise image we all have about Seychelles islands. And deservedly so, formost of these islands lying off the East coast of Africa, just south of theEquator, are stunningly beautiful.

Of the Seychelles 115 islands, 41 Inner Islands constitutethe oldest mid-oceanic granite islands on earth while a further 74 from the 5groups of the low-lying coral atolls and reef islets that are the OuterIslands.

The Inner Islands cluster around the main island of Mahe,home to the international airport and the capital, Victoria, and its satellitesPraslin and La Digue. The many other islands are well worth visiting and youcan review our itineraries for suggestions and more information.

The Outer Islands are situated beyond the Seychelles plateauand are more remote and therefore less visited. Since Mahe is the most southern of the main islands, it is an alternate startingpoint to Praslin for the Inner Islands, and an ideal starting point for theOuter Islands and Aldebra, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

A special note for DYC charterers: Because of the sailingconditions of the Outer Islands, all bareboat charters must be booked with aMANDATORY SKIPPER. DYC will provide a professional Seychellois speciallylicensed skipper.  All charters must be 10nights minimum. DYC yachts with special licenses will be permitted to sail.Inquire with your charter consultant. Fully crewed charters are available forsails to the Outer Islands.

OUR SEYCHELLES – MAHE BASE
Victoria Base / Angel Fish Marina

Like all of our bases, we went out of our way onMahe to avoid the crowed city and harbor of Victoria so that our guests couldspend a quiet first or last night on their boat in a lovely marina. This smallmarina is located on the East side of Mahe and less than 15 minutes from theMahe - Seychelles International Airport (SEZ). You can take a short taxi rideinto Victoria, Seychelles capital or ask Dream Yacht to take care of yourprovisioning during your booking process so that items will be on board upon yourarrival. Self-provisioning can be quite difficult in the Seychelles as thereare limited quantities and choice of groceries.

SAILING AROUND MAHE AND THE OUTER ISLANDS

Journey to Seychelles' sparkling Outer Islands, whereprecious few have gone before and where you can rise to the challenges oflonger sailing distances and few, if any, of the numerous amenities foundaround the Inner Islands. Here is where true adventure lies, amid the azureworld of the open ocean and the turquoise of remote lagoons.

These are areas of ocean passages, grass roots navigationand map making in the time honored method of laying off and sounding by tender.

Some 130 miles southwest of Mahé, the Amirantes is thenearest grouping of Outer Islands to the main granite cluster of the InnerIslands. This dazzling chain of coral isles was first discovered and giventheir name by Admiral Vasco de Gama on his second voyage to India.

The Amirantes lends itself well to cruising, with each ofits islands - from Marie-Louise and Desnoeufs to the fine resort island ofDesroches, or the isle of d'Arros with its magnificent lagoon and the twinisles that make up Poivre - being only some 4 hours sailing from the next.Fishing en route is excellent and the snorkelling and diving are unrivalled,especially around the St Joseph atoll and off the walls of Desroches.

Some 50 miles southwest of Desnouefs resides Alphonse, whichboasts some of the most spectacular diving, fishing and sailing opportunitiesin Seychelles, as well as a resort. Its lagoon is home to teeming wildlife andthe majestic isles of Bijoutier and St. François. Both atolls (Alphonse atolland St. Francois and Bijoutier atoll) are partially navigable at the right tideand both have passes to gain access to their calm interiors.

It is preferable to include Alphonse in a tour of theAmirantes and extend the visit to cover these amazing atolls. An overnight sailfrom the southern end of the Amirantes gives early morning access to the areaaround Alphonse and is a worthwhile extension for seekers of lost horizons.

The Farquhar group lies between 370 miles and 420 milessouthwest of Mahé. It was the first of Seychelles' island groups to be sightedby modern explorers and still, today, offers the sailor an authentic blue-watersailing experience.

Situated on a shallow bank of sand and coral, Farquhar ismore exposed to the sea than either Aldabra or Cosmoledo and rises majesticallyfrom the ocean depths to form a low lying atoll complete with its own dazzlingshallow lagoon.

Navigation within the atoll is limited and mainly restrictedto the eastern section. Although entry and exit can be difficult, it isnonetheless worthwhile for the shelter offered within.

Close by is the massive Providence reef with a small islandat each end. With its northern tip crowned by the protruding peak of St.Pierre, this area, detailed with fine reefs and offering excellent diving andfishing, is mostly the preserve of adventurers seeking the very last word inout-of-the-way cruising.

Flying into Farquhar for rendezvous with a pre-booked yachtis a recommended solution to avoid the long sail there and back. However, thosewho relish ocean passages may continue on past the Amirantes, stop over atAlphonse and finally push on to Farquhar.

Home to nesting seabirds and turtles, this remote islandoutpost offers the intrepid sailor a unique combination of breathtaking scenicbeauty and ocean adventure.

One of the most fascinating natural places on Earth, and oneof Seychelles' two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, can only be reached by sea:Aldabra. The Aldabra group is 630 miles south-west of Mahé and consists of 3atolls, Aldabra itself, Cosmoledo and Astove plus the raised limestone platformisland of Assumption. Only Assumption and Aldabra carry skeleton staff whilstboth Cosmoledo and Astove are at present uninhabited.

The relative closeness of Assumption, Cosmoledo and Astovemakes for an interesting sailing itinerary around these ‘lands that timeforgot.’

This area is very seasonal with the best times to visitbeing the transition periods of March/April and again October/November.

For the continued protection of its unique biodiversity,special permission is required by all visitors to Aldabra.