Photo Essay: World's largest yatch, Mirabella V,sets sail.

BBC On-Line ^

[yankeedame]

Mirabella V - believed to be the largest and most expensive yacht in the world - left Portsmouth on her maiden voyage on Sunday

A good head for heights is needed atop the £30m yacht's 90m-tall mast

The yacht was made in Southampton for US businessman Joe Vittoria, the former head of car hire firm Avis

The interior was designed by Mrs Vittoria herself

The yacht is heading for Mrs Vittoria's home town of Naples

======================================

Snippets of Related BBC Article:

....Mr Vittoria....The former head of car hire firm Avis then intends to charter the yacht out at a cost of £140,000 a week.

The yacht, which was unveiled at the Portsmouth Naval Base, has already been booked for a month over the Christmas and New Year period.

Mirabella V will carry up to 12 passengers with facilities on board including a 600-bottle wine cellar, an outdoor cinema, jacuzzi and dip pool.

Guests will also be able to sail small yachts, enjoy remote controlled replicas of the Mirabella V, ride jet skis and have their own motor launch....."

Mirabella V

[cmsgop]

I like big Yatch's.......

[yankeedame]

and

[A CA Guy]

Now here's a person who realizes you can't take it with you and is doing something about it.

Just think of all the jobs and house payments involvement in that boat has brought about.

Plus 60 miles to the gallon...

[Texas Eagle]

Of course you need something to tow that thing with.

[A CA Guy]

This is a hybrid like the Prius, I figure some wind power in that 60 mpg! LOL

[Lazamataz]

I like big Yatch's.......

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

This is fascinating. I would love to sail on this boat. Heck, I would even scrub the waterline for a quick peek in the galley.

[A CA Guy]

Tow, You mean PUSH I hope?

[tet68]

I love it when someone decorates the interior of a sailing
ship like it was a bloody living room.

[HardStarboard]

Google Miribella V and you'll come up with an amazing web site on her construction. The technical challenges in building a sailing yacht of this size are stupendous.

She's a beauty, but personally I'd prefer something a bit smaller like "Julia", the founder of Rockport shoes boat.

At 143' she was something manageable at around $35mil.

[Imagine]

Do you have any nude pictures of the yatch?

[tdadams]

Somehow, I have a yacht like this in my future. What's the Powerball up to this week?

[yankeedame]

LOL!!!!

[LibWhacker]

Hmmm . . . Hard to tell from the pics, but I wonder if they mean to say the largest sailing yacht? Seems to me I've seen pics of larger motor yachts. Greg Norman is building a biggie. Then there are things like the Southern Cross III!

[Exit148]

I'd like to see what happens to all those pillows, the vase of flowers, the bowl of fruit, the dishes and even someone walking in all that open space --when the 'sailboat' does what sailboats are supposed to do when they are under sail ---- they heel!!!!

[yankeedame]

You mean these?

[Imagine]

errrrrrrrrrr, not exactly....

[MissAmericanPie]

I imagine they mean the largest under sail.

[Cicero]

I've been a sailor all my life, and I've sailed on all kinds of boats, large and small. I confess I prefer a boat I can sail myself. Even if I could afford a large yacht with a captain and crew, I'd prefer something I can handle myself with family and friends.

Besides, I can't afford it.

[neutrino]

Bully for you, Laz!

[Lokibob]

This is where MY Powerball winnings are going:

 

 

 

Luxury Subs :: Tourist Subs :: Manned Submersibles :: Used Subs Phoenix 1000 The Phoenix 1000 is a 65-meter (213') personal luxury submarine. The initial design was originally executed for a client and now awaits a buyer. As proposed, the submarine would constitute the single largest private undersea vehicle ever built, and arguably, one of the most significant personal transportation devices of the century. A Luxurious Undersea Vehicle This design, which we have named the Phoenix 1000, has more than ample space. The total interior area of the submarine is in excess of 460 square meters (5000 square feet). The significant volume, coupled with very large acrylic viewports, and the potential for relatively large open spaces, results in a vehicle as luxurious as the finest of motor yachts.

[Quick Shot]

Need a lesson in definitions here. This not the largest or the largest American owned. I'm sure it is the largest something. The MY "Limitless" owned by the owner of Gap, Victoria Secret, and other outlets owns the 300' plus yacht which is the largest US owned yacht. 2.5*longer. To bad it is not for hire. He doesn't even give tours to the magazines.

I had the good fortune to sea trial on her several years ago. The most high tech vessel I've ever seen. Puts the best cruise ships to shame. Is German built though

Now I'll take a ride on any of them.

[Waco]

Naples. Fla? Italy? Et Al?

[spetznaz]

Interesting you should post a link to the personal luxury subs. I've been thinking about it, and it appears that if terrorists could purchase a personal sub (the Seattle 1000 would be perfect) then they would manage to gain capabilities that were beyond them. It is a fact that well-heeled drug smugglers have purchased smaller versions (one was caught in the 90s trying to actually get an ex-Soviet design even, but that was an extreme example. Most stick to personal designs). Why not a terrorist?

And if you think of it, the Seattle 1000 has trans-Atlantic cruising range when it is operating on the surface. Once it submerges it can stay without surfacing for 3 weeks (it probably has some sort of AIP technology). Thus, it would be possible to set sail from some port in Europe, and once close to the US continental shelf to dive and come in.

Also, the Seattle 1000 has the ability to have a deep-submersible attached piggy-back to it (in case its owners want to travel deeper than the 300 meters the Seattle can go. The submersible can go up to 3000 m). Anyways, that piggyback function can be perfect for attaching a Silkworm missile. After all, fire-control functions for a Silkworm type are non-existent, and that type can take any type of beating!

Consequently, it is theoretically possible for the craft to set off from Europe, come as close to the US as possible, dive, and then surface just off Manhattan with a Silkworm on it (obviously the missile would have some chemical warhead ....maybe bio if they can bypass some technical issues).

Oh, and the cost of purchasing such a personal Sub (the Seattle 1000) is a little over 19 million. And their website says some of their buyers are 'wealthy Arab sheiks.' 19 million may be a lot to many, but in reality that is not a lot of money at all!

Makes ya wonder. Now, I know what I said may seem like a stretch. Yep, that's for sure. But I am certain flying planes into our buildings seemed like a stretch at one time!

I just hope that with the end of the Cold War we did not neglect our SOSUS system (although I wonder how helpful that would be when the craft is in its Yacht crusing form), and that we have some way of stopping personal subs. I worry since the South American drug smugglers have managed to use them effectively, but I hope that with the WOT the powers that be are keeping a close eye for potential baddies coming in beneath the surf!

Again, this may seem like an extreme possibility, but anything is possible.

[texas booster]

Let's see...

24,000 Imperial gallons of diesel @ $3.00 / gallon at the local marina ...

I would have to sell my home just to fill 'er up!

[Sir_Ed]

I thought Paul Allen owned the Tatoosh and Octopus, both in excess of 400' and Larry Ellison owns Meduse, over 300'.

Ed

[Jimmy Valentine]

Just judging from the pictures, but that does not look like the largest yacht to me.

"Delphine" is 282 feet, and there are others approaching 430 feet LOA.

As to sailing yachts, "Sea Cloud" was the yacht of the Post family and is bigger still, I think.

Regards,

[ovrtaxt]

That's a nice boat, but check out my dinghy!

[decimon]

[Age of Reason]

facilities on board including a 600-bottle wine cellar, an outdoor cinema, jacuzzi and dip pool.

Too bad they haven't figured out a way to sail the whole thing by radio control.

That way, the owner wouldn't have to leave dry land and risk being splashed by icky salt water, and his wife wouldn't have to worry about having her hair mussed by the wind or her makeup smeared by spray from the waves.

They could instead fulfill their yachting ideal from dry land, in the comfort of their climate-controlled living room, watching the progress of their boat on a TV monitor, without having to worry about spilling their drinks or wetting their expensive footwear.

[Age of Reason]

I'd like to see what happens to all those pillows, the vase of flowers, the bowl of fruit, the dishes and even someone walking in all that open space --when the 'sailboat' does what sailboats are supposed to do when they are under sail ---- they heel!!!!

LOL.

They must stow all that nonsense when underway; the proud owners are probably then helicoptered ahead await the boat at its next destination, where they can then be seen having coffee on deck while safely tied to a dock.

[Age of Reason]

I owned a small crusing boat for many years. And unlike most owners, it was a sad day when I sold it.

Nevertheless, the most fun I ever had on a boat was when I was a kid and rented small skiffs from local fishing stations.

[Quick Shot]

I believe you are right except for the technicality of the the Limitless is the largest US flag vessel. All the others are foreign flag.

The Limitless had to get an act through congress for it to have manning requirements of a yacht and not a merchant ship.

[Sir_Ed]

Ahhh!

I understand!

Thanks...

Ed

P.S. Why would Allen have his yachts flagged in foreign countries?

It's not like commercial vessels where they pay huge duties, is it?

[Quick Shot]

It mostly has to do with taxes. There are also crew requirements that are different on US flag. Most corporate vessels and charter are offshore owned. It also keeps the operation and costs out of the eye of the IRS.

And simplifies putting it on the US corporate books. IRS code on this type of stuff is very tricky. and you have to show that it is for business and not just personal use.

[Salvation]

What's a yatch? LOL!

[arasina]

Yacht'a see this yacht!

[Hildy]

If that guy on the pole comes with it then I think it's well worth the price, whatdya say, gals???!!!

[Toespi]

The third largest power yacht in the world is owned by Les Wexner, (the Limited, Victoria Secret, etc.) it is called Limitless and is over 300 feet long.

[Mirabella V]

Greatly enjoy the chitchat about Mirabella V, but I just wanted to set a few things straight. She is not the largest yacht in the world, that's just the BBC reporter not doing his homework. She IS the largest sloop (single masted sailboat) in the world, she does carry the largest sail in the world, and has the heaviest lifting keel (150t). She is also made of "plastic", or specifically FRP, which is a composite material. So she's the largest piece of composite material in the world (like a racing car). Other issues raised elsewhere on the board: The owner does actually enjoy sailing, and getting wet; the furniture is either stored or secured prior to sailing, although she is not allowed to heel more than 20 degrees (government regs). Unlike the other boats mentioned, this one was designed principally for the charter market, not as an owner's boat. So a lot of her facilities, including the interior, are designed to make her charter guests comfortable.

[mict42]

What's a yatch?

[r9etb]

What's a yatch?

It's the sound you make when your boat hits rough seas.....

[Jimmy Valentine]

Thanks for the comeback. Having had to go up a mast a time or two to reset a halyard or sail that had jumped its track, I'll take a pass on going up that one.

I will be interested in how well the composite material syands up to the stresses involved in such a vessel as this, particularly hog and sag.

Good luck with this one; she is a beauty..

regards,