MARY

MARY — Ferretti 68 · Greek Islands A Ferretti 68 is a known quantity among people who charter in Greece: enough hull to handle an open Aegean crossing, enough manners to make it comfortable, and a footprint that slips into the small harbours the bigger boats have to admire from the anchorage. Mary, refitted in 2016, is based in Rhodes and cruises the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, Crete and the Turkish coast. Four cabins accommodate eight guests: two with a double bed, two with twin beds — a layout that works equally well for two couples travelling with children or for a group of friends who would rather not draw straws. Below, the salon runs the full width of the yacht, air-conditioned and furnished in cream leather, with a DVD and CD system for the evenings when nobody feels like going ashore. The dining area sits a step up around a briarwood table that seats all eight, with the galley immediately alongside — meals arrive hot, and the cook works to your preferences rather than a fixed menu. Most of the day, though, happens outside. The sundeck is generous for a 68, with a bimini for shade when the Aegean sun gets serious, and it doubles as the natural spot for an afternoon barbecue. The aft deck table is where breakfast tends to stretch into late morning, the harbour or the bay in front of you and no particular reason to move. The crew handle the running of the yacht and the rhythm of your days with the kind of quiet attentiveness that only registers when it's absent — routes adjusted to the meltemi, tavernas worth the tender ride, and the details taken care of before you've thought to ask.