VASSIA

Vassia — 17.6 m, Dubai Marina At 56 feet, Vassia belongs to that useful category of yachts: big enough to feel generous, compact enough to slip out of Dubai Marina and be off the skyline within minutes. She holds a 22-knot cruising speed and is kept in genuinely good order — fully air-conditioned throughout, which in these waters is not a detail but the whole premise of a comfortable day aboard. Below, three cabins each take a double bed, sleeping six, with three separate heads so nobody queues. The interior leans classic — warm materials, traditional furnishings, a lounge that reads as a proper saloon rather than an afterthought — and the galley is equipped to handle real cooking rather than reheating. Life aboard, though, happens outside. The cockpit dining area sits under a hard top, so shade comes as standard: sofas, a table, an electric barbecue and a sound system that carries. It is the natural centre of gravity for a long lunch that drifts into the afternoon. Forward, the sun loungers on the foredeck offer the quieter option — coffee at anchor, a glass of wine as the light goes soft over the Palm. A captain and two crew run the yacht, handling navigation, service and the practicalities so the day stays yours. Vassia suits the occasions people actually charter for in Dubai: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, a barbecue afloat, or a corporate gathering that benefits from leaving the office behind entirely. Berthed in Dubai Marina and ready to cruise.