boatinternational.com • 05 2019Golden Yachts’ unusual business
model raises the question: is it really
profitable to build yachts, manage them
for charter and sell them years later?
“Nobody keeps all these boats to lose
money,” says chairman and
co-founder Paris Dragnis.
At the time of our interview, the sister
company that his son John heads up,
Atalanta Golden Yachts, managed 35
boats for charter, eight of which were
built by Golden Yachts. There is a loyal
fan base of charterers; 50 percent
are repeat clients, who return to the
popular cruising grounds of Greece year
after year. Many are looking forward
to trying the latest boat in the Golden
Yachts fleet, Dragnis says.
The yachts stay busy. In her first year,
O’Pari 3 did more than 110 days of
charter, and she was sold to a client
two years later, intended for purely
private use. O’Ptasia booked 70 days
in her 2018 season and she already has
reservations for summer 2019.
Clients hail from the US, Brazil, the
Middle East, Russia and the UK. Some
seek privacy, while others court the
paparazzi. Dragnis credits one family for
the popularity of 161ft O’Ceanos. “The
Kardashians chartered O’Ceanos, and
now that yacht sells out every season.”CHARTER SCHOOL
The main salon is divided
into three spaces including
two distinct seating areas.
The central lounging area
has three sofas surrounding
an ebony table and facing a
television; a more intimate
conversation area is aft, just
inside the doors to the deck.
The owner’s office (right) is a
clean, calm working space
97