While the world is expecting Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez to show up in St. Barth’s like the rest of the billionaires with their multi-million-dollar pleasure crafts, the centibillionaire has surprised everyone by landing in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, with the world’s largest sailing yacht in tow. The tiny nation, previously harrowed by one Oceanco superyacht, the Alfa Nero, is now proudly welcoming another Oceanco schooner. In fact, to make their visit memorable and trouble-free, Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez has emphasized the need for privacy for the high-profile visitors during their vacation, according to Antiguaobserver.
Minister Fernandez addressed the fascination with the $500 million Koru megayacht, a striking vision with three towering masts, and stated, “We extend a warm welcome to Mr. Jeff Bezos and his wife as they enjoy their vacation in our beautiful twin island nation. The allure of the Koru is undeniable, but we kindly ask for everyone’s understanding and utmost respect for their privacy during this special time.”
Recently, the billionaire and his soon-to-be wife have been cruising on Koru with its transponders off, possibly wary of the attention their travels attract. The couple, deeply in love, would certainly prefer to ring in the New Year in a serene atmosphere, which could explain why they chose tranquil Antigua over chic St. Barth’s, currently overflowing with superyachts.
The 416-foot yacht is avoiding unwanted attention, anchored at Falmouth Harbor with the AIS turned off, as reported by Marine Traffic. The vessel is out of range and only reveals that it is sailing in the Caribbean Sea.
Meanwhile, the support vessel Abeona, worth $75 million, is cruising in the Caribbean, possibly heading toward St. Barth’s, according to its position on Marine Traffic.
Last year, the couple welcomed the new year in St. Barth’s with a disco-themed party that made headlines. As Koru was under construction, Bezos rented the motor yacht Tender To for a modest $38,000 a week. This year, he will let down his hair (pun intended) on his half-a-billion-dollar floating party place.
