Mirabella V in trouble

[MRC Design]

I've seen Mirabella, up close and personal. Sailed past her while she was undergoing trials in the solent.

Looks very impressive but personally I think she's a very stupid yacht. Bigger is not always better.

She displays impressive technology but no real innovation.

Despite my dislike of her as an immense icon of overconsumption and foolish status symbol I am not happy to see her in trouble.

[Kevin H.]

Mirabella V is back in Portsmouth for repairs.
http://ybw.com/ibinews/newsdesk/2004...19ibinews.html

[Sean Herron]

Hello...

I was just putting a pole on my dinghy to raise a Jolly Roger and go get me a GPS with a squirt gun and a pair of wire cutters...

I am just here for a GPS - you wont get wet if you cooperate and get down and stay down - by the way is there anything to drink on this boat....

You - yeah you - get up and make me a sandwich - and don't use any of that funny mustard...

SH.

[John Perry]

Originally Posted by MRC Design

She displays impressive technology but no real innovation.

I thought the way the mainsail is divided into sections which hook together at the battens was quite innovative. I can see something like that being done if commercial sailing ships ever return. It means you can make a huge sail in a reasonable size sail loft and if the sail rips apart in a gale there is a chance of most of it being salvaged.

I tend to agree about it being a rather extravagant status symbol but perhaps not as bad as motorised superyachts with half a dozen gas turbine engines.

John

[Kevin H.]

Originally Posted by John Perry

I tend to agree about it being a rather extravagant status symbol but perhaps not as bad as motorised superyachts with half a dozen gas turbine engines.

I don't really see why people are making such a fuss about Mirabella being "so extravagent"... just look through all of the "super yahct" mags in any given month of the year and you're pretty much assured to find something bigger featured in at least one of them.

She's by no means the biggest, simply the biggest of a particular style. Mr. Vittoria had the guts to try something new (a sloop bigger than any previous, and composite construction), that's all. There's a hoard of yachts out there bigger, more expensive, etc.