Mirabella's an ugly lady

[Salty]

Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

While marvelling at the engineering that goes into something like Mirabella, am I the only one to think she's pretty ugly looking - all out of proportion like a Macgregor 26 on steroids. The fact she's just a floating hotel (albeit a pretty exclusive one) detracts too. If I had the choice (like hell I ever will), Mari Cha IV would do me - only 140ft (!) but looks like a real sailing boat and built to break some records too (including the monohull Jules Verne) - her lines are beautiful. Sure Mirabella's twice as big, but size isn't everything especially when she's a double-bagger to look at.

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/photos/maxiyachts/2003marichaiv7.jpg

and

http://www.ybw.com/albums/album16/abi.sized.jpg

to see what I mean

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[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[Neraida]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

I disagree I'm afraid, not saying she's a beauty though... I do think it is an achievement to make her look like a modern sailing yacht; kind of an an Oyster 300 if you will.
I think opinion should be with-held untill she is rigged, as all yachts look "funny" without their masts.

However, if you don't like it, you don't like it, who am I to argue!! ;-)

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[Twister_Ken]

Got there first

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[Neraida]

Re: Got there first

Being "first" isn't always a good thing tho ken!! ;-)

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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Got there first

Tell that to the Australian Rugby Team!

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[ccscott49]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

Dont agree, cant stand either of them! Give me a big Fife anyday!

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[Little_Russel]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

Please don't be rude about 'Mirabella'. I waited long enough for her to be ready and now I am just going to enjoy her.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sail the Se7en seas...

 

[Salty]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

That's progress I suppose! At least Mari Cha's a greyhound (and hence in the spirit of the Fifes) rather than a tub of lard.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

Have to agree with that, but those fife lines.....oooooo.....I could come over all uneccessary!!

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[Salty]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

Thinking about it, it shows how difficult it is to design something unashamedly luxurious without it looking ugly and brash. Building for speed seems to impose a set of disciplines which keeps the worst of that at bay. Think of cars for example. Park a top of the range Merc S-class and a Ferrari 360 next to each other. They cost more or less the same, one just looks hideous and obese, the other stunning. The ridiculous Maybach proves the point even more. Completely pointless.


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[ccscott49]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

Horses for courses. But the big fifes are also luxurious inside and fast ladies, so it can be done right, You can at a cost, hide a lot of the uneccessary rubbish, but big and brash with sat domes etc, etc. Iis what a lot of the rich classes want, to show off, subtlety comes with breeding. IMHO

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[jamesjermain]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

I don't entirely agree. Remember she is without rig and a lot of other equipment so has a fair bit of settling to do - also as already said, all boats look odd without a rig. Pretty? Maybe not but not ugly either.

She will never be a Fife, but no Fife was ever this long, nor required to have cool rooms which could supply Buckingham Palace (or park a fleet of double decker busses as all the mags have pointed out).

Strange to say, Mirabella has been designed to sail well and is predicted to be capable of 20 knots on passage. A look at her underwater profile tends to confrm this.

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ

 

[StephenSails]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

Disagree with you I am affraid. I do not think it is really fair to compare boats of different types. If you compared Mirabella V to a ship then I think most people here would say she a pretty, comparing her to a carbon racing maxi is pointless.

Incidentally Mirabella loosly translated in Italian means beautiful vision!

Cheers

Stephen



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[StugeronSteve]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

S**t! Just had the marina bill. Do you think I'll lose my deposit if I cancell the order now before they go to the expense of rigging?

She's certainly not the cutest thing afloat but I do agree with the other guys that the boat is at a bit of an ugly duckling stage. Judgement reserved till I see her carrying a full press of sail.

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[Moose]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

<hr width=100% size=1>My Moose is having a rest, he has done enough walking for the year.

 

[Mirabella_V]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

I think the various responses posted already have already agreed that the comparison is somewhat unfair. While it hurts to hear the word “ugly” in the same sentence as “Mirabella V” we always knew that she would not please everyone in the sailing community.

Speaking from "the inside" I can tell you that we think the entire Mari-Cha family is spectacular. But please remember, those are owner boats, i.e. mostly used by the owner, whereas all the Mirabellas are working boats (luckily with occasional owner participation). The Mari-Cha’s may find it hard to earn a living in the charter market outside of racing events. We look forward to sailing against Mari-Cha IV on the water (we have already had the pleasure with M-C III). I think our only chance will be on a long upwind leg in 15 knots true, and with a 5 ft swell. In any case she will be a joy to watch, much like being passed by a Ferrari on the motorway.

Mirabella V has re-written the record books for a reason, she was envisaged to push the envelope of technology. You will see the benefit of this new technology in new yachts over the coming years. Hopefully you will continue to appreciate her for her technological beauty rather than her aesthetic one. We love her the way she is, and think that she’ll look even better in around 12 days (keep an eye on Empress Dock).

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[Twister_Ken]

Shifting into reverse gear

Must say the shots in YW much her look much more pleasing than the ones posted hereabouts.

Can't wait to see her in the flesh, with the rig in. Where is Empress Dock?

Is it planned that she'll be doing much trial sailing in the Solent, before setting off to charter country?

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[Mirabella_V]

Re: Shifting into reverse gear

I think we are still collecting and sorting all the launch pictures, of which there are many. There are some good shots on our main web site www.mirabella-yachts.com. There are updates for even more recent events.....the mast transport pictures are our current favourites.

Empress Dock is in Southampton, try clicking here http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...z=1&sv=442520,110387&st=4&tl=~&bi=~&lu=N&ar=y

Don't know about sea trials yet, much depends on mother nature. Will keep this message board informed.

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[mighetto]

Re: Mirabella\'s an ugly lady

OK, yes the Mirabella and Mac26x cruisers have been compared to each other.
Both hulls are hand layed composit with extra layers at the stress points. This is
the same way sails are made and it is the way a very strong hull is also made.
Soon it will be the way aircraft are made. The Mac26x hull is even stronger
because we are chatting two hulls. The inner hull is her water ballast tank that also
is a water tight compartimet. The Mirabella also has a retracting keel like the
Mac26x in a way.

When Mirabella went on the rocks, Mac26x owners figured that Mirabellas crew
were using the retractable keel as a second anchor. X owners are instructed to
drop the longest foil when at anchor. This serves to hold the vessel from a
grounding should the anchor drag and as an alarm for the inattentive. It would be
nice to get the full story on Mirabella. Mirabella proves that roller furling is not
limited to size. The Mac26x cruisers really were designed for roller furling head
sails and this is the Future of Yacht design. No cruising sailor thinks hanks
appropriate and I suspect sails for rollers will be as fast as hanks eventually if they
are not already.

Mirabella is still a lead sled or sinker. The X boats share sisterhood with ETAPS.
They are likely unsinkable. 360 degree visibility from the interior, like Mirabella, I
suspect. Spoon buttocks on both vessels which is appropriate for taking on a man
or woman from the sea. No Lifesling necessary. All modern designs should
incorporate this style of buttocks. You are correct it takes some time to get use to
the look for those accustomed to how contemporary and classic designs look. But
to a youngster these designs look fast. I have come to think of them as beatiful.
You will find Farr designs that look similar. More and more designers are being
required to provide 360 degree pilot house viewing from the interior.


Anyway. another round of Mirabella on the Rocks for all;>)

Murrelet
1999 Mac26x
Olympia Washington
Sail #79020

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