Mirabella V still aground- insurers step in

by David Glenn/Yachting World and Kim Hollamby/IBI Ma on 18 Sep 2004 Joe Vittoria's 246ft Vosper Thornycroft-built yacht, that grounded yesterday off Beaulieu sur Mer, is being assessed for further action by a salvage team controlled by insurers.

As dawn broke off the French Riviera this morning Mirabella V was still hard and fast. The rescue tug Nerou is standing by, she has a line attached to the stricken yacht and divers will shortly inspect Mirabella's hull and keel.

The weather this morning is fair with no more than five knots of breeze from the south and no sea running. Weather is due to stay relatively benign over the next few days but predominantly sunny weather will bring boisterous onshore breezes in the afternoons, which will not help the situation.

If the re-floating of Mirabella is successful she will be towed to La Ciotat near Marseilles where she can be dry docked.

According to Tim Thomas, one time reporter for Yachting World, who is watching developments from the shoreline, Mirabella appears to be sitting high on her marks but there is no sign of any listing. ‘She may have emptied some of her tanks,’ said Tim.

He also noted that Mirabella's anchor chain appeared not to be sitting in its fairlead at the point at which it exits the hull on the stem. It is also apparent that Mirabella's keel is not in the fully up position, although earlier reports suggest that it might have been raised. When it is fully retracted the top of the fin protrudes through the top of the coach roof and there is no sign of this at the moment, which suggests there is a problem with the lift mechanism.

Divers will be assessing the risks associated with dragging the yacht off of her position. She is said to be resting on her keel box. As of last night reports suggested that there had been no breaching of the hull. The giant rig is still standing.

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