DOLLY

DOLLY is a recently launched Fountaine Pajot Alegria catamaran, and she suits the Ionian well: calm water, short hops between islands and long, unhurried hours at anchor. Her flybridge works as a broad open-air terrace above the sea, where you can take a cold drink in the shade, watch the coastline drift past or settle in with a book while the captain chooses the next sheltered bay. A catamaran's stability makes all of this easy, whether you are a family with young children or a group of friends travelling together.

Forward, a cockpit at the bow gives you a second, quieter place to sit, with comfortable seating that faces the water ahead. It is here that she keeps her most distinctive feature, a jacuzzi on the foredeck. It is lovely for a long soak in the afternoon or on a warm evening under the stars once the anchor is down. Aft, the main cockpit centres on a large dining table for long lunches in the open air, and a hydraulic bathing platform lowers to the waterline, so stepping off for a swim is as simple as walking down to the sea.

Inside, the saloon is modern and filled with daylight from wide windows, with warm finishes and a restful palette. The galley sits up on the main deck, so the chef works alongside the conversation rather than below it, and meals feel sociable from first coffee to last glass of wine. Cabins are arranged for privacy, with an owner's suite and queen cabins, each with its own en-suite bathroom. A wine cooler and ice maker keep drinks properly chilled, and there is a TV, sound system, WiFi and a supply of board games for quieter hours.

The water is where she comes alive. A Seabob and an E-Foil offer something genuinely new to try, alongside a Kayak Aquamarina, a Jobe Yarra paddleboard, a Hyperlite State wakeboard, water skis for adults and children, and a Jobe towable tube pulled behind the Highfield tender. Snorkelling gear and fishing gear complete the kit, and there is gym equipment for those who like to keep a routine. Her crew of captain, chef and deck-stewardess look after everything from the BBQ to the anchor watch, leaving you free to swim, eat well and move on to the next island when it suits you.