Seychelles May 2007 - June 2007

Info' on the Seychelles:

Seychelles are made up of two very different groups of islands. The northern islands are granite and generally high in aspect up to around 3,000 feet and are not volcanic. The slopes of these northern islands are covered in jungle with a rich variety of fauna and flora. The southern islands are typical coral atolls with a barrier reef and lagoons.

The capital is Victoria on the main island of Mahe which is part of the northern group of islands. Victoria is quite a small town with a rich heritage in colonial buildings left from the British. They received their independence from Britain in 1976 and since then it has been a democracy.

The shops and market are fascinating. It seems the people are African initially but they have there own identity and are very smartly dressed and seem very happy.

The marine life is excellent. The coral reefs were not that spectacular but the fish we encountered snorkeling in the rocks were magnificent. We had never seen so many different kinds of colourful fish that weren't skittish when you got close to them which allowed us to see them in their own habitat and was a real treat to swim in amongst them.

********************

Our arrival in the Seychelles was after a slow and trying passage from Chagos. Just over a thousand miles, in nine days, lots of squalls, violent wind shifts, torrential rain and dark, dark nights.

After a week in Victoria we explored the islands of Mahe and Praslyn  before returning to Victoria and started the process of provisioning and getting the boat ready for our passage to the southern islands and Mayotte.

While we were in the islands we had Fedex deliver a new autopilot (old one threw in the towel day two of the passage, fried motherboard, leaving us very short handed) from Raymarine in the States. After having spent 8 hours hand steering the boat through the Seychelle banks Peter definitely did not want to spend one minute hand steering.  So when the new autopilot arrived we heaved a sigh of relief.

In the southern atolls there were, reputedly, lots of Bonefish. No takes in Chagos, very frustrating. And, Peter spent wanted to spend  a few weeks fishing for these beautiful, smart fish and had a great time. 

We checked out of the Seychelles and headed down to the southern islands and Mayotte enroute for South Africa.

Anchorage in Victoria at the yacht Club