Motor yacht: Omikron OT-60, inspired by sailing

Original shapes and lines for an 18-metre Greek-built vessel, designed by two sailing boat specialists. Objective: maximum relaxation on very long cruises

Maurizio Bertera

The goal was to build a 60-foot (equivalent to 18.41 meters) “sailless sailing yacht” to combine the best of both nautical worlds. Omikron Yachts, the new brand of the historic Greek shipyard Olympic Marine, sought the perfect combination between the calm and casual lifestyle of sailing with the comfort and space of a motor yacht. The result is theOT-60a cruiser dedicated to sustainability that immediately won the award European Powerboat of the Year 2024 in the displacement boats category. For an out of the ordinary motor yacht, two specialists in sailing projects could only be called upon to design it: the Italian Lorenzo Argento (interiors and exteriors) and the Frenchman Juan Kouyoumdjian for naval architecture. 18.41 meters long, OT-60 can count on an important width (6.06 metres) which together with the compact engines – 2 Yanmar 4LVs of 150 HP each – and the absence of sailing equipment create the conditions for a layout unexpectedly generous, especially on the lower deck.

LOTS OF SPACE INSIDE

Beyond the naval architecture, the design signed by Lorenzo Argento is surprising, having created a space with important volumes compared to the external dimensions and courageous solutions. Just look at the lounge space, going below deck, which houses the kitchen and dining area with incredible height. The cabins also play a lot on brightness with windows created in various points that do not betray privacy. Ciarmoli Queda Studio took care of the interior decoration, focusing on natural materials, neutral colors and tactile finishes. Although the OT60 was designed without flybridge (an area above the roof generally used for driving or as a sunbathing area) to maintain a casual style, there is a large aft deck that rounds out to the bathing platform to recover additional space. There is space for a tender on one side as well as a small beach where guests can enter and exit the water in complete safety.

CONSUMPTIONS LIMITED

With the clear aim of sailing sustainably, the OT60 offers considerable range – 1000 miles at 12 knots – (i.e. 1,852 km at 22.2 km/h) while consuming just 1.25 liters per mile. Efficiency is optimized to cruise at 10-12 knots because it is the fastest cruising speed that still allows guests to enjoy life on board. Both the propulsion and the shape of the hull are optimized to give a maximum silent cruising experience, which becomes a moment of relaxation and recharging, like on a sailing boat. Two lower deck layouts are available, with three or four cabins respectively, always providing each with a private bathroom. The sustainability of the project is also guaranteed by the very careful construction, as per the script of Olympic Marine which has a structure – based in the Aegean port of the same name – among the most tested in the Mediterranean. A dedicated production line was created for the OT-60, which involves the construction of the hull with vacuum infusion and carbon fiber superstructure, lightening up to a third of the composite in the upper parts of the ship and improving its stability.



ttn-14