Not many 22-year olds can say they own their own charter sailing company.

Yet that is only part of what sets the aptly-named Rising Son Cruises, Bermuda's newest charter company, apart from the competition.

The luxury 43-foot Privilege catamaran Rising Son arrived in Bermudian waters recently, and the crew completed their inaugural charter last Thursday.

"They said it was the best thing they've done since they got here," said the proud Rising Son owner and captain, 22-year old Beez Evans.

Beez founded Rising Son Cruises in May of this year.

"I spent the last two months running around Florida and the Virgin Islands trying to find a boat, then I found this one (in Tortola in the Virgin Islands)," the young captain said. "We only got her up here last week."

The Rising Son has five staterooms and can comfortably sleep four couples. She also has a full bar, galley, four heads, and an entertainment centre with a TV, DVD, CD, X-BOX and stereo - just in case of a rainy day.

Bar and catering are available upon request and the boat is licensed for up to 40 passengers. The company even offers an entire weekend aboard "while the crew caters to your every need" - the only company offering this service in Bermuda.

So how does a 22-year old get the money to buy a 43-foot luxury catamaran sailboat entirely on his own?

"It's all thanks to the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation," said Beez. "They guaranteed me for a set amount, and the Bank of Butterfield gave me the loan.

"We've got contracts with the cruise ships - I have contracts with Norwegian and Celebrity," Beez said. "We just contacted them and asked - hey, everybody loves a catamaran."

Beez, who captained the Island's largest catamaran charter sailboat, Fantasea Cruise's Aristocat, for two and a half years, got his captain's licence when he was only about 20.

"Working in this industry you get to know everybody," he said. Rising Son Cruises deals with all the charter companies in Bermuda, and can, for instance, arrange for interested parties to take a jetski tour with SeaVenture Watersports, or a parasailing trip on the Skinnydipper.

And the young entrepreneur is still driven to learn more about business. "At the end of the season I plan to return to Florida and finish my B.A. in business at Florida Tech," he said. "Then next season we'll be back up again. Except for Wednesday and Thursday mornings, we can do a charter at anytime," Beez said.

More information about Beez and Rising Son Cruises can be found on the company website, www.charterbermuda.com