Bali 4.8 Esther
2023 Esther — five-cabin Bali 4.8 with full kit at Eden Island
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Granite Islands and 28°C Water. Year-Round.
The closest thing to a private cruising ground that still has charter inventory.
Overview
The Seychelles are an outer-island cruising ground in the western Indian Ocean — 115 granite and coral islands east of Mahé, the country's capital. The Inner Islands (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Curieuse, Cousin) cluster within 30nm of each other and are where most charters sail. The water is in the high 70s to low 80s year-round. Granite-boulder beaches are routinely on 'best beach in the world' lists, and they're empty most of the time.
What's hard: it's a long way to get there (most US charterers connect via Doha, Dubai, or Frankfurt). The southeast trades from May–October can blow 15–25 knots steadily, which makes for great sailing but rougher overnight anchorages. Provisioning ashore is limited outside Mahé and Praslin.
Best for charterers planning a bucket-list trip, sailors who want consistent trade-wind cruising in warm water, and groups willing to commit to long-haul flights for an exceptional destination.
Quick Facts
- Best months
- April – November. April–May and September–October are sweet spots. December–March (NW monsoon) is hotter and rainier.
- Sailing conditions
- SE trades 15–25 knots May–October. NW monsoon 5–15 knots December–March.
- Water temperature
- 76–84°F year-round. Stable.
- Typical trip length
- 7-day most-booked, 10-day common given travel time.
- Cruising character
- Inner-island short hops, granite-beach anchorages, light infrastructure.
- Customs
- Clear in at Mahé international airport. Visa-free for most nationalities for tourist stays.
- Currency
- Seychellois Rupee. Euro and USD widely accepted in tourist areas.
Sample Itineraries
All depart and return from the charter base. Distances are approximate nautical miles.
7-Day Active — Inner Islands
- Day 1 — Mahé (Eden Island Marina) → Sainte Anne Marine Park. ~3nm E. Short first sail. Mooring in the park; snorkel before sunset.
- Day 2 — Sainte Anne → Praslin (Anse Volbert). ~22nm NE. Anchor or pick up a mooring off the beach. Walk the village; rent a bicycle and ride to Vallée de Mai (UNESCO World Heritage — the coco de mer palm).
- Day 3 — Praslin → Curieuse Island. ~3nm N. Anchor in Anse José. Curieuse is a giant tortoise reserve; trail walks through the colony.
- Day 4 — Curieuse → La Digue. ~5nm SE. Pick up a mooring or anchor off La Passe. The island has no cars — bicycles only. Ride to Anse Source d'Argent — the granite-boulder beach on most 'best beach in the world' lists.
- Day 5 — La Digue → Coco Island. ~3nm N. Tiny granite outcrop. Snorkel the surrounding reef — protected, abundant fish.
- Day 6 — Coco → Cousin Island. ~10nm SW. Bird sanctuary; landing requires advance permit. Anchor off, dinghy in for the ranger-guided tour.
- Day 7 — Cousin → Mahé. ~25nm SW. Long return sail. Arrive Eden Island Marina by late afternoon.
Available Yachts in Seychelles
Anchorages Worth Planning Around
Anse Lazio (Praslin)
Northwest coast of Praslin.
Why stop here: Half-moon beach on the northwest coast of Praslin. White sand, granite boulders at each end, almost no infrastructure — one small restaurant set back from the beach. The platonic ideal of the Seychelles beach.
Holding & approach: Anchor in 20–30 feet of sand. Watch for the granite reef at the south end of the bay. Exposed to NW swell in monsoon season; protected during SE trades.
What to do: Swim. Snorkel the granite boulder formations at each end of the bay. Walk the rim trail at sunset.
Getting There
- Airport
- Seychelles International (SEZ), Mahé. Direct flights from European hubs (Frankfurt, Paris, London), Middle East (Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi), and African gateways (Johannesburg, Nairobi). US charterers typically connect via DOH, DXB, FRA, or LHR.
- Charter Bases
- Navigare Yachting — Eden Island Marina, Mahé.
- Airport Transfer
- SEZ to Eden Island Marina is ~10 minutes by taxi.
- Customs & Check-in
- Visa-free for most nationalities for tourist stays up to 30 days (extendable). Bring passport.
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