The inaugural Seychelles Challenge is a 7-day, 6-night flotilla holiday experience that features daily sailing challenges around the iconic Seychelles Islands to position the Seychelles as a sailing destination of choice.
Sailors, enthusiasts and tourists will race or spectate in the comfort of Sunsail and Moorings Chartered catamarans with the option to charter bareboat or with a local skipper, while experienced sailors may apply to race their own yachts. This specially curated island experience is coupled with official functions and daily prize giving ceremonies hosted at exotic locations on the Seychelles Islands.
The event has been created with both experienced sailors and recreational cruisers in mind, while also having strong environmental and sustainability ties with a number of local initiatives.
Together with our event partners, Seychelles Challenge co-founders Bruce Parker-Forsyth and Hylton Hale have have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for over a year to bring this event to life.
Meet the team!
Q: What inspired the creation of the Seychelles Challenge, and what makes it unique compared to other sailing events around the world?
HH: The Indian Ocean, especially the Seychelles and surrounding islands, lack any international regattas when compared to the Caribbean. We are hoping to start a trend where the weekend racing sailor and eventually the full professional teams, venture into new territories such as the Seychelles.
We believe that The Seychelles Challenge will provide something that is fresh for sailors and yacht owners who have traditionally sailed their summer in the Med and moved their yachts to the Caribbean during their European winter. In addition, the Seychelles is a Hurricane or Cyclone free zone and has a first world marina. And of course, one cannot talk about the Seychelles without mentioning its unparalleled beauty, featuring abundant sealife, and pristine coves, beaches and islands. I can’t think of a better destination to host a sailing event.
Q: What makes the Seychelles Challenge the perfect event for both experienced racers and recreational cruisers?
HH: Chartering is key. Having Moorings and Sunsail on board offers a turnkey solution for the recreational cruiser racer who does not want the admin of moving his or her catamaran across oceans to be in the Seychelles for one event. We make participation accessible, no matter where you are from, or how you want to participate.
You can charter with a captain or race bareboat, or you can sail your own yacht. For experienced racers, the challenge is in navigating around beautiful islands while decking every speed out of their racing yacht or charter catamaran. The Seychelles Challenge can be taken seriously as a racing sailor, or you can just join the fun by joining in as a fun racer. You can even be a part of the event by chartering a spectator boat and just be a part of the post-race functions and events per day.
Q: How has the local support been?
HH:
Q: Beyond the racing itself, what cultural or social experiences can participants look forward to enjoying during the Seychelles Challenge?
BPF: Participants can look forward to experiencing the local Creole lifestyle, their cuisine and culture, and the idyllic beaches of the Seychelles. We are excited to share these experiences to visitors.
Q: How are you involving the local community, and how has the local support been?
BPF: Collaborating with the local community is of utmost importance! We are working with the local Seychelles Department of Sport, Sailing Association, Yacht Club, and Ocean Sailing Academy to ensure local entries into The Seychelles Challenge. We are also organising a youth sailing event and will share more information around this soon.
We are also deeply respectful of the unparalleled natural beauty and biodiversity of the Seychelles, and understand the environmental impact that events can have. So with sustainability in mind, we are partnering with the Seychelles Island Foundation to promote the ocean conservation projects they support, and ABSA with their Coral Restoration Programme. Fosting local relationships and partnerships are vital to the success of the event, and we definitely rely on these relationships.
Fostering local relationships and partnerships are vital to the success of the event, and we definitely rely on these relationships. Buy-in from the Seychelles has been overwhelming, from the Coast Guard to local sailing NGOs to Tourism Seychelles and Creole Travel Services. All have been enthusiastic and willing to assist. We have created a family who are all eager to be a part of the event.
Q: There may be a perception that travel to the Seychelles could potentially be a costly affair. How does sailing in the Seychelles compare to other countries?
BPF: It is actually one of the most affordable sailing destinations from both a travel and charter perspective. We drew some comparisons in terms of flight and chartering costs against the likes of Greece and Croatia, and the difference in flight costs is significant. It’s also convenient: You can organise a racing catamaran charter with Sunsail and simply fly in. You definitely save.
Q: What is your vision for the future of the Seychelles Challenge, and how do you see it evolving in the coming years?
HH: We are here for the long run, our vision is to continue with the fun element of the charter fleet with our partners Sunsail and Moorings. It is also our intention to attract some professional teams to experience a new venture and racing destination. Our ultimate vision is having the Seychelles Challenge as part of the International Maxi Association circuit, and be involved in other world yachting rallies like the Oyster or Outremer.
 |
Hylton Hale started sailing competitively at the age of eight, and converted to catamaran sailing by the age of 13. He has won numerous championships, and awarded provincial colours over the years.
As the skipper and owner of Team Vulcan, Hylton and his team placed 3rd overall and the 1st South African team in the 2017 Cape to Rio Yacht Race, while his team broke the SA trans-Atlantic record for a SA flagged event. Some of his accolades include:
Hylton is currently sitting on Wold Sailing’s Offshore and Oceanic Committee. |
 |
Bruce Parker-Forsyth is a seasoned professional with over 30 years’ experience in crafting high-impact event platforms that foster enduring partnerships between brands, key stakeholders,associations / NPOs and cities. He excels at translating strategic vision into tangible outcomes, driving destination marketing, economic impact, community engagement, brand activation, and unforgettable customer event experiences.
Bruce has formed part of various international Bid Committees (including the Cape Town Olympic Bid and the Gay Games Cape Town Bid), and has led multidisciplinary teams to deliver world-class experiences in both South Africa and the UAE. He has delivered a multitude of mass participation events, including the Cape Town e-Prix, ITU World Triathlon, Knysna Oyster Festival and the Pick n Pay Wine and Food Festival, and has project-managed major events like the Cape Town FIFA Fan Fest, Mother City Challenge Triathlon (Africa’s first middle-distance race), FIA World Rallycross Cape Town, Cape Town MET, Volvo Ocean Race Stopovers, and The Presidents Cup. |