The scent of the Aegean

The brand Omikron Yachts is ready to challenge the market with niche boats and custom yacht design.

Its OT60 was awarded in Düsseldorf with the noteworthy recognition European Powerboat Award in the Long Range Yacht category; a 54 m sailboat is also under construction, and the OT80 is in the development stage.

Origins

Omikron is a subsidiary of the Olympic Marine Group that was founded in 1969 in Lavrio (on the southeastern coast of Attica) under the name Olympic Yachts. It is a landmark shipyard in Greece for the construction of sailboats and other composite-reinforced boats (the Olympics, the Carters, fishing boats, lifeboats, patrol boats, etc.).

The shipyard later became part of Olympic Marine, a modern and comprehensive facility with 680 mooring places for boats up to 40 m, a dry dock capacity for 700 boats, and services ranging from management to charter to refitting to custom builds.

The turning point

The extensive refit work done by Olympic Marine’s shipyard on Dream, a 93-m passenger ship built in Turkey in 1997 and converted into a 107-m-long superyacht, was the key moment that provided the decisive impetus for the birth of Omikron Yachts.

A work that was awarded at the 2019 World Superyacht Awards for the Converted Yacht category. The project’s positive reception inspired the distinction of the shipbuilding activities from the marina services, leading to the launch of Omikron Yachts, which thus had a solid foundation in facilities, staff, and experience.

Structure and personnel

A modern and integrated construction site, the shipyard includes four buildings totaling 9,000 sq.m of state-of-the-art infrastructure, a permanent staff of 35 collaborates with specialized outside contractors and an award-winning team of naval architects and engineers.

Amidst its constant development, the yard installed a new travel lift with a lifting capacity of 350 t, which operates in a new 12.5m wide dock. At the same time, the carpentry department adopted CNC machines capable of completely constructing the interiors for the nautical context and beyond; a special branch for 3D Design Engineering is already in operation, conducting Stress Analysis calculations and simulations.

The yard’s offer is as advanced as it is broad, with investments such as the specially designed Advanced Composite Studio to enhance the strength and lightness of the primary material with carbon fiber and vacuum infusion.

Models made and in progress

The OT60 is not only the first model launched by Omikron Yachts: it is also the forerunner of a range whose concept is related to a calm cruiser aboard a boat designed to offer extreme comfort, be efficient, and sail in great safety.

The shipyard in March delivered OT60 #3, began construction of #6, and plans to build 12 per year; it is also building Argo 54, a 54 m-long custom sailing yacht with an aluminum hull, and is developing the new OT80 model.

In the name of slow yachting

How did Omikron Yachts come about, what kind of boats will it focus on, and how is it organized? We discuss this with its chairman Nikolas Dendrinos.

A new brand for powerboats, sailboats, and superyachts. On what basis did you make this decision?

Omikron Yachts was launched in 2019 as Olympic Marine’s dedicated yachtbuilding wing. We decided to take full advantage of its recently renovated, internationally certified facilities, which support comprehensive services at scale and the parent company’s experience and know-how.

What size or type will the yard focus on?

We are able to focus on vessels of different sizes, thanks to the skills and facilities of a yard that has built more than 2,000 sailing yachts over the years and conducted significant refits on yachts up to and exceeding 100 m.

Currently, we have two units of OT-60 under construction and, in a new 2,000 sq.m building, we have a custom 177 ft (54 m) super sailing yacht, the Argo54.

That of OT60 is a particular concept. How did it come about?

The concept of the OT-60, the first model to be produced under the Omikron Yachts brand, is the result of our passion and enthusiasm for sailing and a simpler vision of sustainability at sea. All the key figures in the yard are passionate and experienced sailors who love to be at sea. They have their own sailboats and, when possible, they compete in all kinds of regattas.

We had a very specific concept for the boat, which we communicated to the design team; their creativity produced the final design and style.

Who is OT60 aimed at?

The OT-60’s typical owner is an experienced motorboat owner, or maybe even a sailor. Our boat is aimed at someone who is used to slow yachting or perhaps is tired of fast boats and has started appreciating the concept of slow yachting. The owner of an OT-60 is an eco-conscious person, passionate about the seagoing lifestyle that comes from heritage.

From a technical point of view, what are the main strengths of OT60?

One of the main strengths of the OT-60 is surely its sustainable approach to navigation. Her specially designed Eco-Cruise hull, created from the ground up by Juan-K with CFD, is optimized for calm cruising speeds from 10 to 12 knots, where the OT-60 can sail 1,000 nautical miles, consuming just 1.25 l per hour. This is the quickest cruising pace that still allows guests to enjoy life on board between ports.

Such a level of efficiency is achieved through the synergy of the hull with the 2x Yanmar 4LV 150hp engines, which are optimized for the same speed range and provide secondary benefits such as silence, stillness, and space.

Both the propulsion and hull shape are optimized for minimum disturbance, for a silent, stable and serene cruising experience, which becomes a time to relax and recharge.

The hull’s significant beam, just over 6 m, the compact engines, and the absence of sailing equipment create the canvas for an unexpectedly generous layout, especially on the lower deck.

How are the shipyard and the production cycle organized?

In terms of construction, Omikron is involved in series productions, custom boats, and large refits. We do all composite, joinery, furniture production, electrical, mechanical, and outfitting works in-house. We do not do steel and aluminum constructions. All our custom boats are built for specific clients, while we have built two OT60s on spec.

How far along is the construction of Argo54?

The Argo54 is in the outfitting stage: insulation, sub-constructions, cabling, and equipment installation is taking place.

What are the new OT80’s main features? When will we see it in the water?

The OT-80, like her sister, underscores our commitment to comfort, efficiency, and safety on extended cruises, encapsulating our vision for easygoing and sustainable seafaring. The feedback from the boating community and the success of the OT-60 has been instrumental in shaping the concept and design of the OT-80, ensuring it meets and surpasses market expectations. Lorenzo Argento and Juan-K are collaborating with the shipyard again, and the OT-80 is set to launch in 2025.

Elegant and functional boat

OT60 is one of those boats that amaze, that are to be looked at well and carefully because they have something new to say.

With OT60, the call to the world of sailboats is more than just a ‘call’: the hull, keel, equipment, and design team are all inspired by sailing, to the point where the shipyard refers to it as a boat “designed to sail without sails”.

The design

The concept of the boat is closely related to ‘going to sea’ aboard a calm cruiser among the islands of the Aegean Sea, a sea as complex as it is fascinating and influenced by the Meltemi, a wind that can blow very intensely for long periods. Designing the shapes of an efficient marine hull was Juan-K (a CFD pioneer), a designer who has churned out many winning boats in the racing world; the exterior lines and interior layout are by Lorenzo Argento, another name closely associated with sailing and racing, and the interior decor is by Ciarmoli Queda Studio.

Design and implementation

The boat was designed by minimizing weight to maximize efficiency and ensure great stability. Optimized to sail around 12 knots, it is powered by two 150-hp Yanmar engines (alternatively, 2×250 hp can be fitted) that provide a range of 1,000 miles while consuming 1.25 l/hour.

OT60 is made by infusion, all sandwiched with vinyl-ester resins. The bulkheads are also infused and then resined to the hull. The deck and superstructure, on the other hand, are made of carbon to stay within the expected weights.

Omikron Yachts has extensive experience in soundproofing from its work on superyachts. In addition to soundproofing the engine room, the motors are V-drive mounted with the Bruntons sigmadrive system, which reduces vibration and thrust bearings. Inside, soundproofed wood and doors were used everywhere; its very rigid structure also helps to cancel creaks.

The various areas of the boat

The design is clean and very well balanced, and the boat is extremely functional: examples include the dolphin netting at the bow, a fixed and sturdy support for a 32 kg-anchor, and the gangway at the stern, which in navigation is an integral part of the cockpit while at the dock it opens electrically by compassing into a wide gangway with handrails.

OT60 develops over two decks; large windows characterize the interior main deck area with the wheelhouse and lounge well connected to the cockpit, organized with sofas, sundeck, and a large table.

Two side staircases lead to the aft bridge over the sea. In the bow, there is the sunbathing area.

The lower deck area is peculiar: not all the lower deck is actually ‘below deck’. Coming down the stairs, guests land in an open-concept, double-deck-height annex that includes the kitchen and dining area. The large windows on the main deck illuminate this space.

Two layouts are provided for the sleeping area:

• three-cabin: the owner’s cabin is forward and full beam, and the two guest cabins are aft of the galley;
• four-cabin: the forward cabin is divided into two guest cabins.