MERRY-TIME

MERRY-TIME — Bali Catamarans, 2021 A 14.94m (49ft) sailing catamaran from Bali Catamarans, launched in 2021 and based year-round in the Virgin Islands — the US and British archipelagos alike, where short hops between anchorages are the whole point. The layout is unusually consistent for a yacht of this size: four cabins, each with a queen-size bed and its own en-suite, accommodating eight guests. No compromise cabin, no odd berth reserved for the last person to book — everyone aboard gets the same arrangement. For two families sailing together, or a group of four couples, that symmetry matters more than any single grand suite would. Catamaran life is what draws most guests here. The beam gives you deck space that a monohull of the same length simply cannot offer, the platform stays level under sail, and the shallow draught opens up anchorages the bigger yachts have to admire from a distance. Merry-Time cruises at 8 knots with a top speed of 12 — comfortable numbers for island-hopping between Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island and the Baths, where the sailing legs are measured in hours rather than days. A crew of two runs the yacht: captain and chef, close enough to look after eight guests properly without ever crowding the space. In the Virgin Islands, that local knowledge is the difference between a good week and an exceptional one — knowing which bay empties out by late afternoon, which reef is worth the early start. A straightforward, well-conceived catamaran for a Caribbean week among friends or family.