MIRABELLA V AGROUND!!

Re: Mirabella damage

I dont have any info LJS. Divers were looking at it for quite a while, then she let go the line holding her to the tug boat and motored off under her own steam. There was a huge blast of horns from the anchored yachts, congratulating her. She motored around for a couple of miles, then dropped anchor back where she started and stayed there for the evening at least. As you can see in pics conditions were dead calm

Kim do you know if she went under own steam to La Ciotat, or was towed?

Also Kim, what's your impression of the anchor size, from pic above?

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Re: size of her anchors

Might be deceptive 'cos of the size of the vessel (chain looks small too) - ships anchors always look small.

Wouldn't like to say myself, but unless they have been changed since, here they are on the back of a pickup which gives an accurate impression of size.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.manson-marine.co.nz/SitePages/MirabellaV.htm>http://www.manson-marine.co.nz/SitePages/MirabellaV.htm</A>.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.
 
Re: size of her anchors

I bet that company is bricking it now, I am surprised they have not suspended that page. Not saying the anchors where at fault but look at the evidence.

oooh ooooh we built Mirabella's anchors, she is the worlds biggest raggie and we got the contract for building her anchors as we are the best anchor company in the world!

<font color=red>NEWS FLASH - Mirabella drags her anchor and lands on rocks!</font color=red>

<font color=blue>Woofy's note</font color=blue> They do look small on that pick up, IMHO

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Woof</A>
 
Re: size of her anchors

I would think that they just built the anchor weight and style that was ordered.

Have done a very rough check (cos I don't know all the dimensions of M5 to accurately calculate it) but would seem to me that the main anchor, at least, probably comfortably meets normal classification society requirements. M5 is stated to be in class with GL so one assumes all is fine in that department.

A browse through other large yacht photos also gives the same impression of little anchors, as do those of ships (and they usually do not have high performance anchors).

Ships normally do not have the same intensity of interest in different anchor and cable styles as little boaties have ie no "5 kg spade on 1/4 inch nylon rode" versus "50 kg CQR on 5/8 inch chain" discussions - their anchoring needs and practices are far different. So anchor style is not a topic of real discussion if they drag.

If a large vessel drags, and I do not know if this one has, well then all that TCM alludes to is the normal place where fault lies.

Regards

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.
 
Re: size of her anchors

If you read the site, it seems the anchor was built to fit existing measurements and nylon rollers already in place. They make the comment that it is normal practice to fit rollers etc to fit anchor, not the other way around. Small point though in the scheme of things

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
 
Re: Mirabella damage

I don't know the exact ins and outs of passage to La Ciotat -- one imagines the tug was never very far away. My source is absorbed with other things at the mo...

As for the anchors, I've been reading through the threads with some interest but find myself unable to pass a judgement of any value, purely because I simply haven't ever got into the issues surrounding anchors for vessels of that size. I guess the whole superyacht industry has, to a certain extent, had to reinvent the wheel purely because much of the wisdom of anchoring commercial ships might, to a certain extent, have been sacrificed on the altar of style and design over ugly and functional. That said they still very much have to comply with their chosen build standards and coding.

Mirabella V is certainly at the bleeding edge and pushed the boundaries in so many ways (and in fact pushed several of her supplying partners into areas they had never explored), so whether everything has worked out okay or not I'm sure is fascinating in itself. The project manager for the owner, Paul Johnson, is nobody's fool and so I'm sure there would have been a lot of head scratching over aspects such as windage when considering the choice of anchors and ground tackle.

Given Mirabella's coding I would have throught the MAIB will want some involvement in events of the past few days and it will be fascinating to see exactly what is deemed to have been the cause(s) of the stranding. Because of the sheer complexity of relationships between various interested partners I doubt very much that we'll hear much else of any substance officially before then.

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Caution please

Can I remind everyone that it is not at all clear the exact reason why the accident happened and speculation over that the specification or quality of the anchor was a direct cause is not rooted in fact and therefore might lead us into difficult waters legally.

To avoid me having to trim this thread or remove it caution is urged.

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