At 246 feet in length, with a rig that
towers 300 feet over the water, the world’s largest sloop, Mirabella
V, has presented unique challenges to her sailmakers, Doyle
Sails International.
Two sections of mainsail fitted together with one of her battens
Construction on the staysail
Mirabella V‘s
sail inventory consists of a mainsail, staysail, working jib,
and UPS (Utility Power Sail), or reacher. At 17,366 square feet, Mirabella V‘s UPS is bigger than any sail ever made –
as evidenced by its acceptance into the Guinness Book of World
Records as “The World’s Largest Sail.”
The sails were constructed at the Doyle
loft in Marblehead, MA. Then, on February 9-13, the four sails
were installed on Mirabella V at the Portsmouth Naval
Base in Portsmouth, UK. Two days were spent assembling the six-part
segmented mainsail into one piece and three days were spent hoisting
the three headsails, lifting the mainsail into the boom, and
installing the boom on the boat. For more, see www.doylesails.com/superyachts-mirabellav.htm.
Mirabella V’s rig compared to a J-Class yacht and an International
America’s Cup Class (IACC) yacht.
A shroud
Lifting the mainsail onto the boom
Looking for New Sailing Options?
Mark Your Calendar for the Crew List Party
March 31 – San Francisco
The countdown clock is ticking, as Latitude
38’s spring Crew
List Party is just seven days away (Wednesday, April 7).
Held at San Francisco’s Golden Gate YC again this year, the big
shindig will begin at 6 p.m.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Crew List
concept, these semi-annual get-togethers are simply low-pressure
forums for would-be crewmembers to find captains in need, and
vise versa. So whether you’re looking to crew on a race boat,
cast off the docklines for a world cruise, or simply get out
on the Bay for occasional social sails, mark your calendar and
show up with a positive attitude. Who knows? You might make connections
that grow into longtime friendships.
Although Latitude’s Crew List Parties are low key and
fun, captains and crew often make connections that yield great
adventures. Last year at least one participant found a ride from
Fiji to Australia. Photos Latitude/Andy
The crew lists themselves are printed in
the March (racing) and April (everything else) issues of Latitude 38. The Racing List is also
available online. The April issue will hit the streets tomorrow
(Thursday), and the April Crew List will be posted online a few
days after the Crew List Party itself.
Tall Ships and Classics at Pacific SAIL
EXPO
March 31 – Oakland
If you’re like most sailors, you appreciate
vessels of all kinds. You might prefer a souped-up high-performance
ride for the racecourse, but the timeless beauty of classic boats
still turns your head. You can see quite a bit of the latter
at Pacific SAIL EXPO, April 14-18 at Jack London Square, if you
make a detour to the show’s special section for classics of all
sizes. The tall ship Hawaiian Chieftain is the headline
act: at 103-ft, she is the longest, and since she replicates
a design from 1790, her lines date back the furthest.
The ketch Hawaiian Chieftain
Photo Latitude/Andy
Built in 1891 and measuring 80 feet, Bay
Area scow schooner Alma offers a glimpse into the maritime
history of the Bay. Alma transported hay, lumber, and
salt; from the 1920s to the 1950s, she dredged for oyster shells;
in 1988, she was designated a National Historic Landmark and
is part of the fleet at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical
Park.
The scow schooner Alma
Smaller vessels will include the 42-ft Grace Quan, a just-launched replica of a traditional junk
that also resides at the Park; Runa IV, built in 1918
in Copenhagen, Denmark of Norwegian pine and oak, which sailed
to California on the deck of a steamer in 1933; and Glory,
a 1964 classic Herreshoff 28 built in Japan of native woods.
The sloop Runa IV
Photos Courtesy Sail America except as noted
If you want to step back in time and sail
a classic while at PSE, Hawaiian Chieftain will be offering
90-minute sail training excursions. These sails cost $20 per
person and can be reserved in advance by visiting www.hawaiianchieftain.com.
