Ever dreamed of cruising the Seychelles islands? Add in some fun fleet racing and you have a perfect sailing adventure. Introducing The Seychelles Challenge. Charter a boat with Sunsail / Moorings or enter your own. And if you get in on the action now an early-bird discount of 15% applies!
The idea
Avid sailors, Ingrid and Hylton Hale along with Liesl Nel from Sunsail/Moorings, first came up with the idea. “We thought, why not devise a fun race around the Seychelles, anchoring every night off a different island? The Seychelles Islands are incredibly beautiful and offer some of the best sailing conditions in the world. And Sunsail/Moorings has luxury catamarans in the Seychelles offering the perfect way to experience these beautiful islands. And so, the idea was born”, says Ingrid.
“To have this event run smoothly though, we needed an experienced sports management and logistics partner to produce an event of international standards”, says Hylton Hale, partner in Worldsport Sailing. “Worldsport Sailing is a world-class sport tourism, destination marketing and event agency with experience in organising the Cape to Rio Race, The Ocean Race stopovers in South Africa and Abu Dhabi, the TP52 World Championships and many other sports events – so it just made sense for Worldsport Sailing to be involved”.
Bruce Parker-Forsyth, CEO of Worldsport adds, “The Seychelles Challenge will showcase Seychelles as a largely unexplored sailing destination of incredible beauty and rich sea life, but also as a country with a successful ocean sustainability program. These are both passions of mine, after 30 years of organising sailing events in Abu Dhabi and South Africa including the Volvo Ocean Race, TP52 Series and the Cape to Rio Race. ”
“With co-founders of The Seychelles Challenge, Hylton and Ingrid Hale, along with Host Partner Seychelles Tourism we have taken a long term vision to grow this regatta into a bucket list experience”, he added.
The event wouldn’t be made possible without the support and guidance of our Host Partner, Tourism Seychelles. “Through this collaboration, we aim to elevate Seychelles’ visibility in non-European markets, spotlighting our commitment to sustainability, the preservation of nature, and the celebration of our rich cultural heritage. Together, we foster global awareness and inspire responsible tourism,” says Christine Vel, Market Manager, Tourism Seychelles.
Why the Seychelles?
The Seychelles offers unbelievable sailing conditions in pristine beauty. Just north east off Madagascar, the country consists of an archipelago of 115 islands with roughly 98,000 citizens. The Seychelles is a melting pot of many cultures, which have co-existed since the first settlement of the islands in 1770. The three main inhabited islands are Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, and the official languages are English, French and Seychellois Creole.
The islands fall into two categories – 41 inner granitic islands and the more remote outer coral islands.
It’s home to numerous beaches, coral reefs and nature reserves, as well as rare animals such as giant Aldabra tortoises. Mahé is a hub for visiting other islands, and is home to the capital, Victoria.
Keeping it green
Seychelles prides itself on eco-friendly tourism. The government has launched many initiatives to ensure that the islands and the surrounding waters keep their pristine, natural beauty.
Added to that, in a bid to build climate resilience and boost its blue economy, the Seychelles signed a unique deal in 2015: almost $22m (£16.8m) of its national debt was written off, in exchange for the country doing more to protect its oceans. The “debt for nature” swap involved the US conservation group The Nature Conservancy (TNC) buying the debt, in exchange for a promise to create 13 new marine protected areas (MPAs).
Aldabra Atoll’s green turtle population is the largest in the Western Indian Ocean region, and is growing every year. The atoll’s management is run as a professional enterprise today, led by the Seychelles Island Foundation (SIF). Its UNESCO World Heritage status has helped to keep the area largely free from development, and to secure a regular flow of income through tourism.
The Seychelles Challenge is committed to supporting these projects.
The Seychelles Challenge – what and when
Please note: this schedule may change due to weather conditions
Sunday, 20th July 09:00 to 14:00 – registration at the Eden Bleu Hotel
11:00 – competitors briefing at the Eden Bleu Hotel
09:00 to 16:00 – charter boat handover at Moorings/Sunsail bases
15:00 to 16:00 – optional warm up race – vicinity St Anne
Welcome event at the Eden Bleu Hotel Eden Island
Monday, 21st July 10:00 First Warning Signal – vicinity St Anne Island to Praslin – finish off Paradise Beach
Prize giving after racing (target time 17:00) Paradise Beach
Tues, 22nd July 10:00 First Warning Signal – vicinity Paradise Beach, Felite (P), Grande Soer Islands (P)
Finish off Paradise Beach
Prize Giving after racing – Paradise Beach
Wed, 23rd July 10:00 First Warning Signal – vicinity Paradise Beach, Booby Islet (P), finish off Anse
Lazio between committee boat and buoy, anchor Anse Lazio (for Lunch)
1400 Second Warning Signal – vicinity Anse Lazio, Curieus (S) finish Paradise Beach
Prize Giving after racing – Paradise Beach
Thurs, 24th July 10:00 First Warning Signal – vicinity Paradise Beach, la Digue Island (P), finish outside
the entrance to the La Digue island harbour
Prize Giving after racing – La Digue Island
Friday 25 July 10:00 First Warning Signal – vicinity outside La Digue harbour, Finish St Anne, Mahe
Prize Giving – venue TBA
Saturday 26 July 10:00 Eden Island Harbour exit
11:00 First Warning Signal – vicinity St Anne Island, Mamelles (P), finish St Anne
7:00pm Closing Ceremony and Prize Giving – venue TBC
Sunday 27th Jul Boat handover – 9am
Six races are scheduled over six days.
How to enter
Eligibility and regatta entry (excludes charter fees)
Charter a luxury catamaran with Sunsail or Moorings
Eligible boats may enter by registering online at The Seychelles Challenge and by filling in the entry form.
All entries need to:
(a) Provide a copy of a valid ORC Club Rating Certificate. The Moorings Sunsail Charter fleet will be provided with an ORC rating Certificate.
(b) Provide a crew and guest list.
(c) Complete the entry form by the entry deadline of 15 May 2025, 12:00 GMT email to the Sailing Administrator: info@seychelleschallenge.com
(d) Pay the Entry fee of $2 300.00 per boat + $325.00 per crew member and or additional guests. The entry fee is not refundable. Please ensure a proof of payment is sent with your entry form. The boat or team name is to be displayed on the proof of payment.
Late entries may be accepted if received after 15 May 2025, 12:00 GMT. A late entry fee of an additional $300.00 per boat + $50.0 per crew member will apply, the organising committee reserves the right to accept a late entry or not.
Classes
Depending on the number of entries and other organisational factors, the Organising Authority might split the classes into different fleets. The Charter Catamaran class will be allocated to one fleet, the fleet may be divided as follows:
Charter Catamaran, Charter Monohull, ORC 1 and ORC 2
