| Mirabella V 247 |  |
If you want to define your charter desires by superlatives,
Mirabella V fits the bill. At 247 feet (75.22 meters), she
is listed in the Guinness Book
of World Records as the
largest rigged sloop in the world. What that means beyond snob appeal and sheer
volume of interior and exterior space, is that she is the perfect vessel for
exploring the southern Caribbean and thrilling to sail. Designed by naval
architect Ron Holland, she offers passengers comfortable opulence packaged in a
composite sailing machine employing cutting-edge technology. With a mast nearly
300 feet tall, she is strictly one of a kind. In fact, pilots over-flying her
anchorage in Grenada’s Prickly Bay (the point of departure for our charter)
complained that the mast was a distraction. When her Australian captain, David
Dawes, picked us up at the airport, he explained the brouhaha with a shrug
of the shoulders and a smile. Once aboard, we simply relocated away from the
flight path, to the quietude of Clarke’s Court Bay.
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Grenada is a verdant volcanic island that, despite a brief
phase of political upheaval and a spate of hurricanes—including Ivan the
Terrible a few years ago—is making a remarkable comeback. Construction is everywhere, but
the topography of Grenada is as striking as ever, and the red-roofed ramshackle
capital of St. George’s nestled in the hillside above the main harbor remains
one of the most picturesque of all the Caribbean capitals.
 Map by Steve Stankiewicz.
Before heading out, Captain David arranged for Henry’s Safari
Tours to take us for an island tour into the rainforest. We passed roadside
stands proffering nutmeg, cinnamon, cocoa and other locally grown fare; the
epithet "the Spice Island" has obvious roots. Our trip culminated with a
refreshing dip at Concord Waterfalls. Meanwhile, the crew moved Mirabella V just outside
the Careenage of St. George’s Harbour where she fairly dwarfed the small cargo
ships. The Grenadines—the chain of islands between St. Vincent and
Grenada—offer a unique mixture of untrammeled islands, uninhabited islands,
islands that are luxury resorts unto themselves and colorful real-life working
islands. We saw it all, from sleepy Carriacou to the exclusivity of Petit St.
Vincent, to the villas of Tommy Hilfiger and Mick Jagger in Mustique, to the
vibrant workaday life of shopkeepers, boatbuilders and whalers in
Bequia.
 Photograph by Alexis Andrews. (Click image to enlarge)
Leaving Grenada we sailed north, stopping first at
Hills-borough, Carriacou, an island that is part of the country of Grenada.
Mirabella V is in her element in the Caribbean, where
trade winds are strong and the breeze is fairly consistent. Once you get the
sails up her acceleration is something fierce. Within minutes of hoisting the
main and the jib, she is pushing 18 knots in moderate air. You can sit back and
let the 14 crewmembers take care of you or, if you are so inclined, Captain
David will let you helm her yourself. I can attest to the fact that she is both
well balanced and responsive. Prior to our trip, Ron Holland had been aboard
with a charter group of well-seasoned racing sailors who reveled in sailing her
aggressively, reaching 20 knots!
Top photo: Aft-deck sunbathing with all the amenities. Bottom photo: Impressive roller furling gear. (Click images to enlarge)
Our two-family charter, which included three teenagers, wanted to see the
islands, but also wanted to experience all this extraordinary yacht had to
offer. Our kids were interested in how the sails were hoisted, and each wanted a
turn driving this powerful machine. The Mirabella crew is
terrific at dealing with experienced sailors and neophytes alike. With two decks
for dining and sunbathing, guests can always find a space that speaks to them.
On Carriacou, we were invited to have tea with Earl Kent, a
quintessential English gentleman in his late 80s who ran a lime plantation on
the island delivering citrus to the UK company that produces Rose’s Lime Juice.
We sat on his verandah and were regaled with tales of the early years. This
island remains today a view into the old Caribbean—sleepy and authentically West
Indian, with fishing boats selling their hauls and boatbuilding on the beach in
Windward. Real estate developers, however, are no fools. Cardigan Estates, with
its ruin of the lime processing plant, is now being subdivided into building
lots. Perhaps this island will one day become as popular as Bequia. Better buy
now.
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