Boat International US Edition – May 2019

Air-conditioning units, supplied by
Dometic, are hidden in columns, and
they are whisper-quiet, with air dispersed
through the shelved ceilings. This not
only hides the potential eyesore of vents
but also creates dramatic height,
especially in the main salon – and the next
yacht in build is slated to have ceilings that
are eight inches higher still. The upper
deck salon is a more casual place for
lounging or watching movies, with low-
slung gray sofas, a bar and a games table.
The guest cabins feature eucalyptus
walls and gray joinery. The space is
allocated well in the suites, and most
cabins have walk-in closets. Bathrooms
have a Greek flavor: some are decorated in
Pentelikon marble, which was used in the

twostaircasesallowcrewtomoveabout

witheaseandwithoutbeingseenby

guests,thisisintendedforcharterclients

ratherthanforDragnishimself.“The

crewislikefamily–Iliketoseethem

moveupintheranks;it’stheshipping

mentalityinme,”hesays.

Charterguests’preferencesinform

many of the design decisions. For

example,atwincabinbeingplacednext

tothemastersuitehelpsthoseguestswho

wanttohavetheirchildrenorachosen

assistantcloseathand.“Ilearnedfromthe

charteringsideofthebusinessthatpeople

wantabigswimplatformandbeachclubs

withalltheamenities,”Dragnissays.

Here,O’Ptasiadoesnotdisappoint.The

massivebeachclubboastsacurvedbar,

hammam,massageroom,saunaand

The contrasting interior

hasablendofdark

woodspairedwitha

lightcolorpalettethat

isintendedtoevokea

senseofcalm

guests,whetherarrivingbytenderor

helicopteronthetouch-and-gohelipad,

andthegeneralarrangementiswell

plannedforeaseofguestandcrewflow.

TheartonboardO’Ptasiaisafeastfor

theeyes.Popart,mosaicsandtextured

piecesthattemptyoutotouchthem

adornthehallwaysandguestcabins,

addingheapsofpersonality.Thepiècede

résistanceisthelightinstallationinthe

elevator,aglowingpurpletrianglethat

beckonsyouintothedimlylitspaceand

makesridingevenoneflooranadventure.

Thereisasecondelevatoronboard

that’shiddenfromview,dedicatedfor

crewuse.Similarly,themagnificent

staircase–asetofglowingonyxstepsin

ajet-blackstairwell–isbackedbyacrew

staircaseontheoppositeside.Whilethe

constructionoftheParthenon(itisideal
forensuitesasitdoesn’tabsorbwater);
otherbathroomsfeatureagreenmarble
foundontheAegeanislandofTinos.
Theplentifulcabins–theyachtcan
accommodateupto 22 people–are
numberedratherthannamed,which
leavesabitofanimpersonalimpression.
Butthiscouldbeeasilyremediedbyanew
owner.Otherwise,Vafiadismanagesto
keepayachtthat’sbuiltforvacationsfrom
feelinglikeacruiseship.“Thekeyistouse
warmcolorsandcreateinterestingand
dynamicspaceswithalogicalflow.It’s
veryimportantforgueststoeasilymove
aroundtheyacht,”hesays.“Merging
interiorandexteriorspaceswherever
possiblealsoelevatesthefeelingofthe
yacht.”Therearethreeentrypointsfor