Best sailing areas in Mahe. Sailing routes, weather and wind details, facts about region and important details to sail in Mahe.
Mahé is the largest island of Seychelles archipelago and a starting point for most of the popular yachting routes.
Seychelles is known by people from all over the world. They offer opportunities for yachting tourism. There is a picturesque coastline, safe anchorages, over 60 beaches, and many secret coves.
Yacht tours around the Mahé islands show the 44 miles of picturesque shores and numerous beaches, some of them are accessible from the water only. Gorgeous underwater sites and bright tropical fishes attract the divers and snorkellers, so the yachtsmen should consider buying or renting the equipment for underwater swimming.
Seychelles includes the Amirant Islands archipelago. For yachting, you must obtain a permit. Not all charter companies allow charter yachts to visit these islands.
Seychelles is a region of coral reefs and underwater rocks. The islands are suitable for diving but are considered dangerous for yachting. Therefore, we recommend renting a yacht on Mahé with a skipper. Yachting in Seychelles is safe. But in some places, there are shallow and dangerous underwater rocks.
In addition to the perfect knowledge of the fairwater, the skipper must know the island owners or contact persons. Many of these islands belong to private owners. The call at a port on private islands is possible upon the owner’s permission only. The availability and price of services depend on the owner’s orders only.
Most sailing routes in Seychelles start from Mahé. An international airport is located here and is home to 90% of the Seychelles population.
The best routes on a yacht on Mahé:
Mahé — Sainte Anne — La Digue — Felicite — East Sister — Praslin — Cousin — Mahé.
Marina Eden — Sainte Anne Marine National Park — Anse Lazio — Curieuse — Anse Volbert Villages — Baie Sainte Anne — La Digue — Beau Valon, Mahé — Marina Eden.
Yachting season at Seychelles continues all year round. Even in January, the local period of rains, the water evaporates in the warm air very fast, so the rain is not the obstacle for yachting at Mahe.
The tides on the island are semi-diurnal and asymmetric. The period between them and low tide is about 6 hours. The range reaches up to 2 meters. The tides cause strong currents in the channels.
From December to mid-March, the monsoon blows from the northwest. The wind speed is between 10 and 15 knots. During this period, the rains begin. The air temperature does not drop below + 29 °C. After the winter monsoon, a windless transition period with a calm sea begins in April. The summer rainy season in August is accompanied by wind. Its speed can reach 25 knots. The next calm transition period runs from October to November.
Mahé Island is outside the hurricane zone. The best time to sail on a yacht is during the transitional periods between the rainy seasons.
An accurate weather forecast can be obtained from the following sources: