The largest single masted yacht

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Mirabella V was launched in November of 2003. She is the largest sailing yacht of her type afloat.

Joseph Vittoria is well-known as a president and chief executive of the Avis rent a car company from 1987 to 1997. Among his CEO peers, he is also known for serving at Travel Services International, president of Puradyn Filter Technologies, and as a member of the executive boards of Transmedia Asia Pacific and Sirius Satellite Radio.

But to enthusiast that love blue water, Mr. Vittoria is known as a man that put the money on the table to get the largest single masted yacht in the world, Mirabella V. In an interview Mr. Vittoria said that he spent 50 million dollar on Mirabella V, and some estimates goes to 100 million. However, the most important thing is that Mr. Vittoria fulfilled his dream and gave to the rest of us something to dream about.

Mr. Vittoria loves speed and his wife loves comfort and when you put those two facts together you get the huge but beautiful yacht. The building of Mirabella V was a complex process, so it's not surprise that naval architect was Ron Holland.

A famous designer that created some of the best world's racing yachts heard from Mr. Vittoria just two things: the yacht must be built in composite materials and she must have a single mast rig. As the project advanced, the interior dictated the size, so Mirabella grew to 75 meter LOA. It became clear that she will be very comfortable racing sailing yacht. In fact, it turned out that she is the largest single masted yacht in the world. She was launched in November of 2003 and her mast was stepped six weeks later. She proceeded to the Mediterranean in June and completed five weeks charter in her first season.

As Ron Holland says, composite materials, never before used on such a large sailing yacht, allowed weight savings that despite finally requiring a displacement of over 750 tonnes still allowed Mirabella V to achieve a displacement length ratio comparable with the latest racing yachts. These dimensions could have been even more impressive had this yacht’s commercial charter requirements not necessitated MCA certification and consequently commercial ship fire insulation (steel doors, stairways, etc.) causing 60 tonnes more weight over and above already strict sound and vibration insulation specification.

Performance was a key demand of Mirabella V with special emphasis on windward capability, and her brief had called for a speed exceeding 20 knots under sail. This ground breaking yacht incorporates every facility for the luxury corporate and private charter market.

Mr. Vittoria's wife, Luciana, was in charge for the interior. Multi-function areas were given equal priority to allow variety of lifestyle requirement for the party or 12 charter guests. The overall practical interior design detailing and soft furnishings have been enhanced with traditional joinery and antique furniture elements. High quality materials, hardware and interior workmanship from specialist companies ensured Mirabella V’s accommodation areas are to world class standards. The result is a spectacularly spacious yet intimate environment for both the owner and the charter guests who will experience life aboard this, the largest sailing yacht of her type afloat.

September 16, 2008

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