How two families created the 78-metre Malia

The next Dragnis generation, sons Ioannis (John) and Vassilis, have executive positions at Goldenport Holdings, the parent company of Golden Yachts Shipyards and a network of commercial fleet operations and leasing for tankers, carriers and cargo vessels, ship management services, brokerage and ship conversions, and the superyacht charter company Atalanta Golden Yachts. While the Dragnis sons grew up in the business and have had involvement with the design and build of superyachts, their role was peripheral to that of the captain, at least until it came to operating the yachts for charter. 

“For a 75-metre yacht to capture attention, it has to be special,” says Stefano Vafiadis. “We decided to do a sporty look but with displacement comfort.” Then came the request for 2.4-metre overhead height on the lower deck and 2.3 metres on the main and upper. Providing the extra overhead heights within a sporty profile became an exercise all of its own, with Vafiadis turning to ancient Greek sculpture concepts called “canon”, a sequence of mathematical proportions that allow the sculptor to reproduce the proportions of ideal beauty in nature. The profile – now realised at 78 metres – is based on longitudinal full-height windows. Forty-five-degree cuts in the bulwarks bring an air of aggressiveness and redirect the look of the tall hull. With the strong horizontal lines below broken by trapezoidal shapes, the superstructure appears lighter and sculptural, despite its massive size. Folds and reveals add mystery while its charcoal colour visually lowers the structure. 

Equally strong is the bow, the first axe-bow on a Golden Yacht and a definite break with the more traditional superyacht styling of her predecessors. The high raised bow conceals a helipad, mooring deck and a garage for the rescue tender as well as allowing the owner’s suite to extend far forward on the main deck without appearing like a bubble or breaking the height of the sheerline.

The sporty look requires minimal enclosed volume of the deck above the bridge. That explains why the owner’s accommodation is on the main deck, along with two VIP cabins and a twin, plus the location of four guest cabins below. Malia marks the first time in 10 years that Golden Yachts has launched a boat with guest cabins on the lower deck. Not that a guest would complain; the cabins – two VIPs, a double and a twin – are generous (and benefit from those high overheads), the windows are very large, and each suite has its colours worked into a comprehensive theme. Some of the cabins feel more contemporary and youthful, as signalled by their wood floors instead of carpets, but all contain the same elements. 

The cabin envelopes are soft and curvaceous; the rooms have no 90-degree corners, a design “trick” that makes spaces appear larger because the human eye doesn’t perceive a stopping point, notes the senior Vafiadis. Bringing another classical Greek element to the discussion, the younger Vafiadis says the influence is Ionic, one of the three primary orders of ancient Greek architecture known for a slender line and controlled curves. But it looks anything but ancient, with modern elements of matt bronze, lacquered glass, pale madrona burr or eucalyptus panels creating a background for embossed leathers and Loro Piana or Rubelli fabrics. Each suite’s built-ins feature the same shapes, but accent woods and details show great attention to design, down to the finish of the Crestron switch plate covers. In all, there are 250 surface materials aboard.

The full-beam owner’s suite features a desk and seating area to starboard and a vanity on port with a walk-in wardrobe and bath forward. Ebony and bronze surfaces project luxury, as do unusual textures in the joinery and the quality of the loose pieces. Other than enjoying the yacht’s full 13.2-metre beam, it is a pleasant, rich, but not overtly palatial space. But that is one of the trends brought by the younger generation of yacht owners – cabins are for sleeping; more space should be dedicated to entertainment and enjoyment for all. Taken together with the adjacent VIP suites, however, the collection of cabins is an impressive area.

Unusually, Vafiadis did not create the design for the main and upper saloons, the entrance lobby or the breathtaking central staircase. These areas are by Massari Design, the Fano-based Italian design firm that created the interior for Project X delivered by Golden Yachts in 2022. It’s worth noting for the opening thread of our story that Alessandro Massari is also following in the footsteps of his father, studio founder Luigi Massari, who began designing motor yacht interiors in the 1970s. The Massari design house favours a contemporary European style, which harmonises well with the Vafiadis profile. “The client asked me to use the same colour palette I had used on Project X and the same level of details as he fell in love with both,” says Alessandro Massari.

The yacht’s generous beam gave Massari plenty of room to concentrate the main and dining saloon furniture in the centre of the space, anchored on a huge area rug floating on a hardwood floor. The arrangement honours the floor-to-ceiling windows port and starboard and the views they endow. Massari mirrored the mullions, making them seem to disappear into the outdoors,  especially since they do not touch the glass. The walkways on either side of the saloon focus a visitor’s attention on one of the yacht’s signature design features, an undulating overhead made of wooden slats. The curved shape of these slats advances just a little bit from piece to piece, and viewed from the ends, gives the overall idea of an undulating, three-dimensional mass or an upside-down dune shaped by a sea breeze entering through the enormous windows. They look as though they are floating; the yard explained that a reinforced structure behind them anchors them tightly and invisibly supports the LED lighting that is applied in narrow spaces between them. The overhead height requirement for the main and upper decks meant a complex engineering task for the yard because it reduced the areas where ducting and conduits usually run out of sight above a suspended ceiling and was made especially challenging by Massari’s undulating mini-beams.

The central staircase is one of the yacht’s most interesting and challenging features. It incorporates natural illumination via a 1.8-metre glass bottom in the spa pool on the sundeck, which is reflected around by a custom crystal chandelier from Lasvit. Its artisanal wavy glass pieces were installed piece by piece on board with hidden lateral anchoring points cleverly stabilising the steel structure. Light and shadow dapple from the skylight onto the decorative plaster and the “liquid” metal staircase surround that depicts a flowering cherry tree. Here as elsewhere, backlit floor-to-ceiling panels, offset like louvres, warm the space with ambient light. 

Behind the bridge is a stylish upper saloon with seating in the round. An extensive audio-visual system supports its use for movie nights. A repetition of the undulating wood overhead treatment also appears here and becomes the theme for the sofa frame that doubles as a low table surface. A near-flush Lasvit glass chandelier adds a little bling.

At the top is a versatile open veranda deck. “This ingenious design affords us the flexibility to engage in workouts or host lively gatherings with friends and family,” says Vassilis. “The veranda deck seamlessly transforms into a lounge, gym, or an inviting reception area for special events. By opening both aft and bow doors, we create a harmonious flow of fresh air, converting it into a unified expansive deck space. It is one of
our most cherished spaces.”

The family’s favourite hang-out spot is the beach club, which Stefano Vafiadis proudly notes is not an expanded tender garage. Housing the custom DL430 and LX600 Novurania tenders elsewhere means the focus – and the finishes – are clearly about guest enjoyment. “Our days are predominantly spent around the sea,” says Vassilis.

The beach club opens to 180-degree views via a pair of drop-down terraces plus an opening stern, all up just one step from the level of the interior living space. A “health bar”, with a design treatment reminiscent of the superstructure styling, is placed just inside the stern hatch and is convenient for those sunning aft or enjoying the shade. The decor and the furniture, the lighting, and decorative overheads create a relaxing ambience far more house than terrace. A large U-shaped sofa can pivot to view the panoramas astern or on the side platforms or turn to face a large TV screen in the forward bulkhead. Young, old, father, son – everyone will find something to like in this boat. 

First published in the January 2024 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.