Boat International US Edition – May 2019

“Shewasbookedforcharterbeforeevenleavingtheshed,justbasedofftherenderings,”
saysParisDragnisofthenew279ftGREYachtsflagshipO’Ptasia.Standingonthe
quayattheyacht’shomemarinainAthens,thechairmanandfounderofGoldenYachts
gazesadmiringlyupathisnewyacht.At2,350GT,sheisthelargestboattoemergefrom
theGreekyard.AndshesetsanewstandardamongherGoldenYachtssiblingsfor
amenitiesandtechnicalinnovationstomaximizeguestcomfortonboard.
GoldenYachts’businessmodelisdistinctfrommostyards’.Ratherthanbuildinga
yachtforaclient,orevenonspeculationhopingtoluretherightowner,newyachtsgo
intothechartermarket,managedbyGoldenYachts’sistercompany,thebrokeragehouse
AtalantaGoldenYachts.Thesespendatleastafewyearscharteringbeforebeingputup
forsale,withDragnisalsotakingthistimetousetheboathimself–asameanstoboth
enjoyhiscreationandgaininsightsonimprovementsforthefollowingiterations.
Inthissense,Dragnisverymuchwearsthehatofownerduringthebuildprocess,
dreamingupthebriefandworkinghand-in-handwithItaliandesignerGiorgioVafiadis
ofStudioVafiadis.TheirfirstGoldenYachtsprojectwas138ftO’Pari,launchedin 1997
byIntermarinebutrefittedbythenascentGreekyardin2006.StudioVafiadis
mastermindedtheinteriordesignoftherefit.
“Yachtingwasmyhobbyandthenitbecamemybusiness,”Dragnissays.“AndIstill
loveit.”Beforeventuringintoyachtbuilding,hisbusinesswascargoshipsandtankers.
Andinaformerlife,inhisearly20s,Dragnisworkedonboatshimself.Hisbusiness
cardstillbrandishesthetitle“Captain”andthecrewrefertohimassuchwhenhe’s
onboard.Thesedays,though,heisquitecontenttoleavethehelmtoO’Ptasia’sactual
skipper,NikosDemertzis,whosaysthatthefull-displacementyachthandles
exceptionallywellinroughseas.
Avariedmaritimehistoryasseafarer,shippingmagnateandyachtownerhashelped
informtheconstructionprocessofGoldenYachts.Theshippingbackgroundin
particularhassurelyhelpedtheengineeringadvancementsfoundonO’Ptasia.Guest