Seychelles (Outer Islands)

The Outer Islands of Seychelles sit at the extreme end of what most sailors would call comfortable logistics, and that is precisely their appeal. Aldabra Atoll and Cosmoledo lie roughly 1,000 kilometres south-west of Mahé, well into the western Indian Ocean, and reaching them means committing to serious open-water passages of three to five days each way.

The wind regime shifts with the monsoons: the north-west monsoon (November to March) delivers hot, unsettled conditions with variable breezes and occasional squalls, while the south-east trades (May to September) push reliable 15–25 knot winds from a consistent quarter — useful for the outbound leg south but demanding on the return.

The sweet spots are the transition months of April–May and October–November, when conditions flatten enough for comfortable manoeuvring around reefs without the full trades on your nose.

Day-to-day sailing here is remote in the truest sense. Aldabra's lagoon — a UNESCO World Heritage site — requires advance permits through the Island Development Company, and anchoring is restricted to protect the substrate. You'll motor through the channel at slack water, drift among frigate birds and hawksbill turtles, and wade ashore to find giant tortoises that have never learned to fear humans.

Cosmoledo serves up some of the best fly-fishing and manta ray encounters in the Indian Ocean, with near-zero light pollution at night.

Liveaboard charter is the only practical arrangement. No bareboat operator sends unaccompanied yachts this far; you'll need a skippered vessel out of Mahé or Victoria, provisioned before departure, as reprovisioning beyond the capital is essentially impossible. Fuel management is critical, and a watermaker is non-negotiable.

Best suited to experienced offshore sailors in October or May; those prone to seasickness or tight schedules should look elsewhere entirely.