DOLLY is an Alegria catamaran from Fountaine Pajot, built around the pleasure of living outdoors on a broad, steady platform. Up top, her flybridge is a wide open deck for stretching out, taking a drink under sail and watching islands come and go. Forward, the bow cockpit offers deep seating that faces the water, and beside it sits the feature that sets her apart: a jacuzzi in the foredeck, as welcome after a morning swim as it is in the evening after the anchor is set. She cruises in Greece, in the Ionian, where short passages leave long hours for all of this.
Behind the saloon, the main cockpit gathers everyone around a large dining table, and a hydraulic swim platform drops to the water, so swimming, boarding the tender and setting off on a paddleboard all begin from a single level step. Inside, the saloon is modern and bright, with wide glazing, warm décor and a calm palette. Because the galley is up, the chef cooks within easy reach of the conversation, which suits guests who like meals to be shared rather than served from out of sight. Sleeping is in queen cabins and a separate owner's suite, all with private bathrooms.
Her water toys reward guests who want to do more than swim. There is a Seabob for gliding below the surface and an E-Foil for skimming above it, a Kayak Aquamarina and a Paddleboard Jobe Yarra for quieter exploring, and a Wakeboard Hyperlite State, water skis in adult and children's sizes and a Jobe Binar towable tube for faster sport behind her Highfield tender. The children's skis mean younger guests can join in properly. Snorkelling gear opens up the rocks and shallows, fishing gear is aboard for patient hours, and there is gym equipment for anyone keeping to a routine.
She travels with a captain, a chef and a deck/stew, a close-knit crew who handle the sailing, the cooking and the comfort of everyone aboard, from lighting the BBQ on deck to laying out the snorkelling kit. Evenings can be as lively or as still as you choose: there is a sound system and a TV, WiFi for keeping in touch, board games for the table, and an ice maker and wine cooler so that drinks stay properly cold. It adds up to a yacht that makes the sea easy to enjoy, whichever way the day turns.