O’Ptasia is the latest in a long line of exponentially growing superyachts built and owned under the Golden Yachts name. Over the years, the Greek company has mastered the charter market with its unique business model to build for charter and not necessarily with the intention to sell. At 85 metres, she is the yard’s largest undertaking to date, but having completed the project in a record 28 months, it would seem that all those years of experience are paying off. 
After identifying several key must-have features, builder and designer together developed a platform that would deliver the ultimate in guest comfort and relaxation. A touch-and-go helipad, large beach club, big swimming pool and full wellness centre are all present and correct following direct input from experienced charterers. As a regular guest on board his own yachts, Golden Yachts Chairman and Founder, Paris Dragnis’ years of first-hand experience as crew and guest played a vital role in this project’s success. 
Keeping guests entertained during their time on board would be of the utmost importance if O’Ptasia was to succeed in this competitive market segment. A highly sophisticated central audio-visual system was developed that connects just about every corner of the yacht. Guests have the ability to easily sync their own devices to the system in order to deliver a familiar and fool-proof way of navigating the latest on offer from Hollywood.
As the O’ line of yachts has grown and evolved over the years, so too have the Golden Yachts team’s obsession with guest comfort, which has developed into a fine art of its own. Having the world’s finest amenities on board could easily go amiss if guests don’t feel completely relaxed and undisturbed. With O’Ptasia, Dragnis early on identified vibration and noise disturbances on board as one of the major distracting elements on any yacht, and posed the challenge of not just reducing these nuisances, but virtually eliminating them.
As one of the quietest areas on board, the upper saloon is proof of the engineering team’s ingenuity when it came to creating a dampening system that would isolate various layers from each other. For a more simple solution, thanks to the huge volume available on board, guest cabins have been moved further away from the engine room on the upper and forward main decks, distancing them as far away as possible from the source of vibration. 
The soft lines of O’Ptasia’s exterior give way to a modern and minimalist interior that is spread across four interior decks, connected by a grand spiral staircase and an elevator. “The inspiration for the decor mainly came from a Mediterranean spirit and level of sophistication, with simple shapes and relaxing nuances,” explains Stefano Vafiadis. Up to 22 guests can be accommodated (12 only in charter mode) in 10 separate cabins, each finished in a harmoniously contrasting theme with dark woods and light fabrics, reflective surfaces and textured upholstery.
There is a balance between the very simple and the very refined. The colours of the interior are warm and reflect the same elegance and taste with which the exteriors were designed. To satisfy VVIP guests that come on board, O’Ptasia features two master suites: one full beam version on the main deck forward and another on the upper deck forward. Four additional VIP cabins are located on the main deck, each with its own walk-wardrobe and en suite bathroom. 
The beach club, or ‘beach house’ as referred to by the project team, is one of the guest highlights on board O’Ptasia. Here, the idea was to keep the layout simple and uncluttered, focussing on the essential ingredients that make up any good beach club: easy access to the water, generous relaxation spaces and protection from the elements. Forget about folding side balconies and glass-bottomed pools, this beach club is designed for simple family life.
Two wide curved staircases lead down to the massive swim platform from the main deck and guests can also reach the beach club through a direct route from the main saloon. Inside is where the yacht’s hammam and massage centre is located along with an undercover lounge and bar area for those perfect sundowner moments. A sturdy passerelle slides out from the hull and lowers into the water for one of the best water entrances on a yacht of this size. Tender operations are confined to an amidships garage on the port side, meaning the stern of the yacht is kept clear of any interferences. 
It is easy to get lost in the grand design of a vessel as big as O’Ptasia. At 2,340 GT, there sure is a lot of boat to cover. Studio Vafiadis made use of this enormous canvas with its generous volumes to execute their love of finer materials and all things exquisite. “Nothing was left to chance; every detail was studied so that all luxurious interior areas, from the high-tech wheelhouse and the well-equipped gym to the ample crew areas, would stand out for their elegance and sophistication.”
The studio’s deep appreciation for wooden surfaces in design means guests will notice variants such as Lati, Eucalyptus and satin-finished Platano around the yacht as well as darker shades for a contrasting effect. “The wood veneers were selected and placed to create the best possible grain match and a smooth even chromatic effect.” For a more sensual ambience, bathrooms are lined with mother of pearl inserts, onyx and marble. The various layers each play with light in its own special way, an element Vafiadis says was crucial to the design of the interior, while not creating an environment that is too ‘sparkly or dazzling’. This interior needs to be appreciated by a wide spectrum of guests, after all. 
Popy Kaia - Atalanta Golden Yachts
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