One need not have been physically present to imagine the thrill of a first glimpse of Olokun as she emerged from Tankoa’s shipyard in Genoa Sestri Ponente in September of last year.
She is the third in the firm’s successful S501 all-aluminum, tri-decked series, which debuted in 2017. And, like her sisters before her -- the successful charter yacht Vertige and the award-winning hybrid diesel-electric Bintador -- she was just as impressive up-close as from a distance. Sleek, yet brooding, her hull is more than a bit imposing even without the strikingly austere metallic gray and black finishes.
In the Beginning
Olokun in the Yoruba tongue translates to Guardian of the Abyss, and she most definitely is a guardian, with all the duality that word conjures. As fierce a face as she presents to those who view her, the lucky few aboard are embraced with a serenity, comfort, and a true sense of home. This oceanic guardian is also angelic.
Tankoa has traditionally had its main focus on custom and semi-custom superyachts starting at 45 meters, producing at least two new builds per year. Like most of this boutique firm’s superyachts, the former Hull # 3 was started on spec, with project management and sale overseen by no less than Camper & Nicholsons. But that focus, combined with a passionate commitment to building flawless products with customers engaged in an active role in that build, was evident from the start. When the brokerage firm secured a buyer in March 2020, she was reaching 60% completion.
Tailoring her build to the client’s needs and desires required a few significant changes to the layout, hull construction, and wiring.
Similarities
Olokun still boasts those signature features showcased by her sisters, including striking fold-down terraces in the forward master stateroom, a spacious sundeck with bar and hot tub, and the ever-present beach club with spa at the transom. Exterior and interior design were also by the acclaimed Francesco Paszkowski, whose talents lent grace and appeal to Vertige and Bintador. There are few more features that extend that sisterly resemblance and emphasize the ongoing celebration of outdoor living on the water with familial togetherness. But then there are also several distinct décor, engineering, and functional divisions drawn in this third model.
The aforementioned striking black hull and gray superstructure is but one marked difference, and it’s certainly the more eye-catching one. Because of the heat-absorbing properties of dark colors, that gleaming finish bears a high-performance polymerized coating formulated by Awlgrip paints that effectively reduces the hull temperature in direct sunlight by up to 10°C, equating to a literal “day-into-night” temperature reduction. The specialized finish is instrumental in preventing overheating and was but one of the new owner’s specific requests.
Differences
Another departure from the norm is the relocation of the formal dining area from its usual site on the main deck aft. Dio Rodriguez -- whose Casa Dio Miami/London custom furniture and design firm worked with the owner on the interior layout -- created an exquisite amalgam of aesthetics and functionality. Rodriguez, who is himself a yachting enthusiast, followed the owner’s wishes in having not just the main deck space but all outdoor spaces, and on each deck, reconfigured to maximize communal enjoyment, relaxation, conversations, and more in serene lounge settings. These would be where family and guests could convene, share dreams and tales of adventures of the day. The formal dining area was relocated to the upper deck, which then allowed for two dining tables, one inside and one outside on the aft deck; either one able to accommodate an entire party.
The master stateroom maintained those sexy fold-down balconies as in the earlier models, both port and starboard, reinforcing that airy, expansive residential feel and lending an oceanfront villa vibe. The full 9.40 meter beam is in use here. The bed is, as you might expect, centerline, with the dual en suite forward. The office adjacent to the owner’s stateroom is furnished with two sofas, a desk, and a bed as well as its own en suite, which is intended to be easily converted to another cabin if the need or desire to entertain more guests should arise. There are 4 VIP staterooms below deck, so all twelve guests – accompanied by a crew of 10 – can be accommodated aboard.
