Superyacht with Epstein connection docks in Wellington

Thursday, 13 February 2020

The Dancing Hare has connections to alleged sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein

A superyacht with a connection to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and media mogul Robert Maxwell has docked in Wellington.

The 58 metre Dancing Hare arrived in Wellington on February 10, and has berthed near Dockside restaurant at Queens Wharf.

Maxwell bought the superyacht in 1986 and named it the Lady Ghislaine after his daughter Ghislaine Maxwell.

The superyacht was last sold in in 2017, with an asking price of $14.5 million

Epstein's accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, alledges she had sex with the Duke of York at Epstein's request in Ghislaine Maxwell's home.

* Prince Andrew snubbed after he 'begged' Jeffrey Epstein's alleged madam to clear his name

* Prince Andrew scandal goes from bad to worse with new claims

* Prince Andrew's email to Ghislaine Maxwell about Virginia Roberts** Giuffre

Maxwell has not been seen in public for months, although in January this year the Telegraph Group reported she has been helping with ongoing investigations into Epstein.

Superyacht Dancing Hare, berthed in Wellington, cruises at 14 knots and reaches a top speed of 15.5 kn.

The area surrounding the yacht has been fenced off, with a sign warning people not to enter the area, which is under 24-hour CCTV surveillance.

The area surrounding the yacht has been fenced off and is under CCTV surveillance.

Staff on the boat declined to speak with Stuff or confirm who was currently aboard.

People working in the area were unaware of who was on the yacht, one saying it was a bit of a mystery.

Superyacht Dancing Hare has docked in Wellington.

The yacht is currently sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, and is registered to a company named Touille, based in Vallauris, France.

After Robert Maxwell died in 1991 after disappearing off the yacht on November 5 it was sold and renamed the Lady Mona K.

Maxwell's death was ruled an accidental drowning, after his body was found in the Atlantic Ocean.,

The yacht was then sold again in 2017, with an asking price of $US14.5 million, and renamed Dancing Hare.

It was built in 1986 for Emad Khashoggi, cousin of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The boat arrived in New Zealand from Sydney, originally docking in Akaroa, before arriving in Dunedin on January 22.

It left Dunedin on February 6, and arrived in Wellington four days later.