Dec. 14, 2004 – To anyone who has noticed a mammoth white megayacht parked in Crown Bay Marina and said to herself – wow, that must be the biggest megayacht in the world – you're absolutely right.
Rising Sun, built for Larry Ellison, Oracle chief executive officer, stretches across the water to a total of 452'8", according to a slim notice on Power&Motoryacht's Web site. This makes her the biggest and baddest ever to sail the seven seas at almost a full 39 feet longer than her nearest rival, the Octopus, owned by Paul Allen, the chairman of Vulcan Northwest.
Currently on her maiden voyage from her birthplace at Lürssen Yachts in Germany, Rising Sun pulled into St. Thomas some time yesterday in an ongoing shroud of secrecy.
A quick search of the 'Net reveals numerous Internet forums where yacht-lovers the world around have speculated about the ship, but as of this date there a few answers.
A ship's mate contacted by the Source Tuesday said he was under strict orders not to discuss anything about the vessel, what it's doing here, or whether Ellison is aboard.
The Power&Motoryacht site said that during her initial sea trials Rising Sun's windows were blacked out to protect against snoopers and that everyone who had anything to do with her construction has had to sign confidentiality agreements.
The one certainty is that such yachts are the playthings of the planet's rich and mighty. Forbes magazine named Ellison the 10th richest man in America in 2004 with a net worth closing in on $14 billion. He is edged out by tech rival Allen, who holds the No. 5 spot with $21 billion.
The Power&Motoryacht article states that Rising Sun was the swan ship of legendary yacht designer Jon Bannering, who died in 2002. Bannering's career spanned four decades and saw about 200 ships from the drawing board to the sea.
The Source was not able to ascertain how long she'll be in port, so a quick trip to Crown Bay to get a glimpse of the proud – and really, really big! – Rising Sun will be more than worth the effort.
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