Located 1,000 miles from Angola and almost 1,800 miles from the Brazilian coast, the volcanic island of Saint Helena is one of the 4 islands of the British Overseas Territories, along with Ascension, Tristan da Cunha and Gough.
Discovered in 1502 by the Galician navigator Joao de Nova, in the service of Portugal, the island was later Dutch, before being annexed by the British East India Company, then ceded to the Crown in 1834. The island has always been a choice stopover for merchant ships, allowing them to replenish their supplies of fresh water and fresh food, earning it the name "Auberge de l'Océan" (Ocean Inn).
In 1815, the island had already been loaned to the British government, which, wary of Napoleon Bonaparte after the Hundred Days, and wishing to avoid his return to France, was looking for a place of exile far from Europe. The secluded island of St. Helena in the Southern Hemisphere was the perfect choice!
The island, 11.5 km north-south and 13.5 km east-west, covers an area of 91 km2. Its highest point is Green Mountain, 859 m above sea level. Although located in the middle of the intertropical humid zone, it is very dry and has a mild desert climate. Until 2018, the RMS St Helena linked the island (and its distant neighbors in the British Overseas Territories) to Cape Town, South Africa. Today, the island can be reached by air from Jobourg.
A welcome stopover for circumnavigators between South Africa and Brazil, the island has no sheltered harbour. However, Jamestown Bay, protected from south-westerly winds, does offer a few buoys.
As the residual swell can be quite pronounced, disembarking by dinghy is strongly discouraged. That's why we offer a friendly roadstead service! From the boat, the view of the high, arid volcanic coastline is both impressive and magnificent.
What to do once you've disembarked? A visit to Longwood, the house where Napoleon was "detained", is a must! You can also visit Ann's Place, a yacht club with a tropical rather than British atmosphere. The Consulate Hotel also features a collection of Napoleonic relics and maritime objects.
Last but not least, a tour of the island by car is a must, to discover the three types of landscape: arid volcanic, lush tropical and Scottish country.
Dolphins, whale sharks, mobula rays... in the crystal-clear waters of St. Helena, marine life enjoys a playground rarely visited by man. Whether snorkeling or scuba diving, this is a paradise for divers, with no fewer than 8 wrecks within easy reach.
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