|
With good moorings and easy sailing distances between a wide variety of diverse tropical isles, it could be argued that there is no better way to discover Seychelles than under sail.
The Seychelles archipelago lies between 4° and 10° south of the Equator in the Indian Ocean and comprises 1.4 million square km of azure ocean with 115 pristine islands – a wonderfully inviting canvas for those who appreciate the art of sailing.
With most islands lying well outside the cyclone belt, sailing offers year-round sailing in relatively calm waters. The Seychelles sailing experience puts a completely new spin on a Seychelles holiday, opening up access to a wide array of beautiful islands and romantic coves not easily reachable by land.
Seychelles Sailing History
Since the 9th century, when intrepid Arab seafarers first sailed the then uncharted waters off the east coast of Africa, the expansive Seychelles sailing domain has been visited by a succession of seafarers under a host of different flags. Phoenician traders, Polynesian adventurers, a Chinese flotilla and pirates – are all presumed to have navigated the Seychelles archipelago, leaving little behind except footprints in silver sands and tales of buried treasure.
The traditional Dutch top-sail schooner S.V. Sea Shell added to the rich tapestry of the Seychelles sailing story, when it began operations in the mid ‘90s for Seychelles sailing charters and cabin cruises. In fact, the Sea Shell brought its own fascinating history to Seychelles: originally built as a pilot vessel in 1920 to guide foreign ships from Holland and France across the English Channel, she was scuttled during World War II to prevent the vessel from being used in the conflict. After her recovery, she became a fishing vessel and sailing school before she was brought to Seychelles as the very first vessel in the Silhouette Cruises fleet.
The S.V. Sea Pearl, an even older Dutch schooner built in 1915, also brought to Seychelles her rich heritage – more than a half-century spent fishing the North Sea – before beginning operations with Silhouette Cruises in 1999. In the years to follow, the modern yachts of Sea Star and Sea Bird would also be introduced to the Silhouette Cruises fleet, between them offering the romance and adventure of sail with the most beautiful archipelago in the world – the ultimate Seychelles sailing experience.
The Art of Island Discovery – Seychelles Sailing Holidays with Silhouette Cruises
With each of our cruises serving as a vivid reminder of the way the islands were discovered hundreds of years ago, Silhouette Cruises invites you to experience a Seychelles sailing holiday aboard our traditional sailing vessels and our modern sailing yachts.
No Seychelles sailing trip with Silhouette Cruises is complete without taking the helm to navigate our vessels. Roll up your sleeves and enjoy the challenge of the traditional rigs of our Dutch schooners Sea Shell and Sea Pearl. Whether behind the wheel or gritting it out by manually pulling up the sails, the rustic sailing experience we offer is a memory not soon forgotten.
Alternatively, take advantage of the modern furling systems of our yachts Sea Star and Sea Bird to manoeuvre their sails. With a powerful rig and large sailing area, these yachts can be driven along at good speed in any weather condition.
Whether taking an active role in navigation or simply enjoying the gentle breeze lapping into the sails, a Seychelles sailing holiday with Silhouette Cruises is simply unparalleled.
Please contact us for more information about Seychelles sailing holidays with Silhouette Cruises. | 
