Atlantis 50 discovered

You could lose yourself aboard this spacious cruiser while discovering the Gulf's emerging cities.

There is a defective gene within us all that demands instant gratification. It takes discipline to savour things that take more than a second to appreciate.

This is why we are drawn to fast food, tequila and Pamela Anderson, or David Beckham depending on your gender - maybe! You know spending time with any of the aforementioned will provide a quick fix, but ultimately none are wholesome candidates for a long term relationship.

Boats have a similar effect and the rule generally goes; the more impractical the boat is - the more you'll covet it.

So, in a perverse way, boarding ART Marine's Atlantis 50 and not being struck with the, ‘Oh my god I have to sell an organ or get a better paid job' fever, was comforting.

Floating dockside, the arcing lines of the Atlantis 50 that continue through its rails, portlights, glasswork and distinctive ‘glass bubble' superstructure, ensure it is a truly beautiful craft; but on stepping into the open cockpit I wasn't quite prepared for the layout that met me.

Being brought up on a diet of British built craft, where every possible inch of space is utilised as a bench that converts into a table, which then transforms into an ironing board, springboard and diving platform; I was quite taken aback by the hedonistic indulgence in lounge space available in the cockpit of the Atlantis 50.

Becoming acclimatised to the vast stretches of sunpads and inviting benches, I slowly began to take in the features that are de rigueur on modern sports cruisers.

To starboard was the hotplate, fridge, wash basin and freezer unit - all within easy reach of one of the most solid folding dining tables available on a motor yacht.

The CD/Tuner head unit is conveniently placed away from the helm, allowing guests to wrestle back a modicum of autonomy. An electric passerelle is cleverly concealed beneath the transom wide aft sunpad and the customised gangway that lifts the tender is also concealed when not in use.

Designed with summer Mediterranean cruising in mind, conditions not too dissimilar from those we experience for the majority of the year in the GCC, the Italian stable that delivers household brands like Azimut and Benetti, have designed a craft upon which to pleasure yourself and your friends.

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