M5, formerly known as Mirabella V, is looking once again like the world’s largest single-masted sailing superyacht now that her mast has been put in place in the UK.
You may recall that M5 has been undergoing a extensive refit at Pendennis Plus, Pendennis’ refit facility, having arrived there in March 2012. About a year ago, her lengthening and restyling was completed; she now measures 255’9” (78 meters), compared to her original 247 feet (72.5 meters). Earlier this month, the megayacht’s newly reconstructed, 291’10” (89-meter) mast was stepped, at the famed Falmouth Docks. It was rebuilt using carbon fiber and titanium for the rig and fittings and now weighs about 27 tons, compared to 45 originally. Pendennis also estimates it’s about 30 percent stronger.
If you’ve never witnessed a mast stepping, the operation may appear to be a slow and none-too-exciting process, but that belies the fact that it’s incredibly complicated. Specific to M5, “as the mast stepping required lifting to 300 feet in the air, it was crucial that the wind was less than 10 knots,” according to Ed Danby, director of Marine Results, which performed the task, with Pendennis’ equipment and assistance. (On a related side note, Marine Results stepped the original mast when the megayacht was first built in 2003 and further removed it during a refit four years ago, too.) It was a five-hour process, involving five cranes and nearly three dozen people.
Sea trials are set for early next month. In the meantime, here are some more fascinating facts. There are 34 new carbon fiber stays, and M5 is the first megayacht to employ chafe-and-wear monitoring technology pioneered by the AC45 yachts that raced in the just-completed America’s Cup.
To see extra photos, visit the Megayacht News Google+ page.
Leave a Reply