Omaya Yachts, Bulgarian brand belonging to Elica Yard, has entered the luxury motor catamaran sector with the launch of their first model, the Omaya 50. This is a story of a family-run company based on decades of experience, defining new standards by combining local artisan knowledge, advanced technology and rapid international expansion. Daily Nautica asked Kaloyan Radulov, co-founder and CEO of Omaya Yachts to talk to us about this adventure.

1) Elica Group boasts 30 years of experience in the yacht building sector, what was the spark that gave birth to Omaya Yachts?

The core competencies of ELICA Group’s main business are in a completely different field. The group is a leading machinery manufacturer for the grain, seed, food and optical sorting sectors.

Around five years ago, we decided to differentiate our corporate portfolio into a new premium industry where we could grow by applying our organisational expertise, strive for excellence, and innovation. Today, the group has more than 300 employees in four countries, while ELICA YARD’s share is just above 50 employees. Working with specialists from five different countries, we managed to create our first brand – Omaya Yachts, the power multihull, starting with our flagship 50ft.

2) Why is the new brand dedicated specifically to catamarans?

When we started researching the industry to find a niche where we could make a difference, we already knew we wanted to join the multihull sector. We considered different ideas for propulsion and vessel sizes, and in the end, we arrived at the 50-foot power catamaran. This was a natural choice, seeing the benefits of this kind of vessel and the progression of the customers’ needs.

We are a big family and like to spend our time all together and with friends. Catamarans provide exactly this – a large platform on the main deck to enjoy everybody’s company, but still, enough secluded areas where you can go and have a private conversation or just enjoy a bit of me-time. You can choose the front cockpit to have a coffee or lie down on the large sunbeds, enjoy the infinity view at the aft cockpit on a comfy chair, prepare a quick BBQ on the flybridge or just rest for a while in the spacious cabins; it’s all up to you when you are on a catamaran. And that’s all on a 50-foot yacht.

3) What makes a catamaran more interesting and desired for an owner than a traditional yacht?

I would say space, comfort, flexibility of the areas, stability and efficiency. The two hulls provide greater stability on the water, which reduces rolling and makes for a smoother ride, especially in rough seas. The motion of a catamaran is different from that of a monohull, often described as more comfortable, as it tends to pitch and roll less. This makes the ride for all passengers prone to seasickness much more pleasant. The twin engines in a catamaran also offer better manoeuvrability in tight spaces, making docking and handling easier.

Catamarans allow for so much more flexibility—lots of storage for water toys, inflatables, diving gear, and foldable furniture, and room for systems improving comfort on board—that they are the future of comfortable sailing. They can be easily used for various activities, making them suitable for a range of uses, from leisurely cruising to adventurous sailing.

The wide beam and design of catamarans provide more deck space and open-plan living areas, ideal for socialising and relaxing, both above and below the deck. Cabins in catamarans are often located in separate hulls, like in our OMAYA 50, offering greater privacy for guests and crew.

Catamarans have a shallow draft, allowing access to shallow waters and closer proximity to shorelines, beaches, and anchorages that monohull yachts might not be able to reach safely.

The hull’s low drag makes catamarans much more fuel-efficient and can also make them faster.

4) Can you tell us something about the current Bulgarian nautical market and its development?

We firmly believe that Bulgaria has the potential to become a new yacht-building hub in Europe. We have a key geographical location, which allows us to deliver our boats globally easily. Bulgaria is a member of the EU, which gives us direct access to high-quality materials from proven European producers. This also gives us the benefit of having access to the base of specialists we can attract to help us grow our business sustainably and bring the expertise to Bulgaria. Furthermore, the fact that we put the label produced in the EU and are obliged to comply with the European directives for boatbuilding, makes us a trusted manufacturer.

Since we started this new venture a few years ago, I know there are already a few new projects other companies are developing here in Bulgaria. Our goal since the beginning was to initiate and always support the development of the yacht-building supply chain in Bulgaria. The only way Bulgarian yacht builders can establish their brands in the highly competitive market is to create a solid network of professionals, subcontractors and suppliers locally.

Even though the Bulgarian coastline is not a top destination for sailing activities, there are many wealthy Bulgarians who form the local potential clientele.

5) What future projects are you already working on or studying?

Our foremost goal now is to position and establish a 50-foot power catamaran on the market. We are working closely with our distributors and agents around the world, together with our marketing efforts, to spread the word about Omaya Yachts.

The upcoming planned projects are related to developing the new upper-class series of Omaya, starting with 62-foot up to 80-foot catamarans. These models will be positioned from the design to the level of equipment in the luxurious semi-customisable sector targeting the UHNWI.

We are ready with the investment plan for a new, larger shed that will accommodate the building of the upcoming models. We are currently utilising a plant of 15,000 sqm, where we have our boatbuilding, mould production, and plug milling facilities; while the new site is planned to be in the same yard, it will be much wider and taller. There is also ongoing planning for constructing our own 20m wide slip, which will allow us to launch our boats directly from the yard into the water.