Rising Sun anchors off Palma: David Geffen's gigayacht heralds the season

Rising Sun anchors off Palma: David Geffen's gigayacht heralds the season

A big boat, lots of attention and a touch of Hollywood over the Passeig

When a ship the size of a house enters Palma Bay, you notice it throughout the harbor. Today the 138-meter gigayacht "Rising Sun" is at anchor, and on the Paseo Marítimo people are again speculating who might have been on board. On the terraces of Portixol waiters are quickly pouring espressos, fishermen mend nets, and the gulls try to find a quiet spot between harbor lights and the luxury yacht. Other big arrivals, like the 79-meter superyacht Yasmine of the Sea berthed on the Passeig Marítim, have recently dominated the harbor.

The vessel has a surprisingly familiar history: it was built in 2005 in Bremen by the Lürssen shipyard; the design is by Jon Bannenberg and was originally intended for Larry Ellison. Today the yacht is owned by music and film producer David Geffen and is considered one of the largest privately used ships in the world. With around 82 cabins across several decks and technical specifications more typical of small ferries, the "Rising Sun" is a piece of modern maritime engineering with a celebrity factor.

What you find on deck reads like a miniature town: areas for relaxation, sports and cinema, a spa, several whirlpools, a pool, a beach-style area on teak decks as well as storage for tenders and water toys. Powerful engines ensure quick transfers between ports — the ship reaches top speeds in the higher double-digit knot range. Practical details like a helideck, which replaces parts of the upper deck, and modern anchoring systems make it seaworthy and highly maneuverable.

On Mallorca the "Rising Sun" has by now taken on a bit of a regular summer spot: it likes the quieter coves along the Serra de Tramuntana, but just as happily anchors off Palma when the city shows its mix of everyday life and hotel trade. For locals this means more than just glamour. Such a vessel brings eye-catchers for tourists, wonder for passersby, and a brief uplift for the harbor scene. Hotels, restaurants and boat rental companies benefit from the extra conversation, marinas from visitors who simply come to look. Indeed, visits such as the new "Star Princess" making a short stop in Palma have sparked debate about sustainable cruising.

Standing on the pier you experience typically Mallorcan sounds alongside it: the rattling of distant forklifts, the clack of mooring lines, the cathedral bell far in the background. Sunday cyclists on e-bikes stop, retirees with shopping bags pause, and children circle the quay — a small spectacle without Mallorca changing much. It is more a scene: a big boat, a few boats around it, the sun over the bay.

As a season opener this is a kind of harbinger. It reminds people that the island is not only beaches and the Tramuntana, but also a hub for international owners and their guests. Seen from a café chair by the water it can be experienced sympathetically: a little glamour, a little everyday life, and many questions to be discussed over the next espresso. Not all celebrity visits are flashy — sometimes it's a quiet family moment like the Beckhams' family evening off Mallorca.

Looking ahead: the coming weeks will again attract several special-interest visitors. For the city administration, marina operators and businesses this means planning, coordinating and balancing open hospitality with the needs of residents. For everyone else remains the joy of watching — and the good feeling that Palma's harbor is once more a place where sea, people and stories meet.

In short: The "Rising Sun", 138 meters, built in 2005 (Lürssen, Bremen), owned by David Geffen, with generous cabin and leisure areas, is currently anchored off Palma and marks the start of the summer season — with all the little scenes such a visit triggers in the city.