BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A world-famous, expensive and luxury yacht - owned by one of the world’s richest men alive - the Rising Sun has found its way into the waters of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The state-of-the-art vessel, which is said to have docked last evening (Feb. 3) at White Bay overlooking Christophe Harbour, is a motor yacht designed by Jon Bannenberg, and built in 2004 by Germany's Lürssen for Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation, and was last refitted in 2007.
Since 2010 however, the Rising Sun has been owned by David Geffen, who had bought a half share of the yacht in late 2006. The yacht is the 10th largest in the world with a length of almost 138 metres (453 ft). And it reportedly costed over US$200 million to build.
The vessel contains chromium-plated hawseholes with 82 rooms on the five levels with a total living area said to be in excess of 8,000 square meters (86,000 sq ft).
Onyx countertops, jacuzzi bathrooms, a gymnasium, a spa and sauna are just some of the other amenities aboard the one-of-a-kind vessel.
It also has an extensive wine cellar, a master bath/bedroom, a private cinema with a giant plasma screen, 3,300 square metres (36,000 sq ft) of teak-layered deck space and a basketball court on the main deck that can also be used as a helicopter pad (if necessary).
However, according to the Post and Courier, Billionaire David Geffen, who is also a philanthropist making his fortune in the entertainment business, docked his mega-yacht on October 19, 2013, at the Charleston City Marina.
The 454-foot-long, five-storey Rising Sun drew locals who marveled at its dimensions. It is described as the 10th-largest yacht in the world.
It is unclear as why the yacht which has made many visits to St. Kitts is here again.
