The M5 (formerly the Mirabella V) was commissioned by an experienced American yachtsman, Joe Vittori, former head of the famous car rental company AVIS Inc. "The Mirabella V was originally conceived as a bareboat charter boat (but with luxury accommodations) to be sailing the Mediterranean in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter, with the possibility of undertaking long distance cruises upon request, such as along the South American coastline to Cape Horn, while maintaining high performance under engine or sails on any course. He asked for a maximum length of 61m, but when Ron Holland designed the yacht it became clear that all his expectations, especially the comfort of seating guests, could only be realized if the overall length could be increased to 75m with a composite hull and sloop rigging, the latter for aesthetic reasons as well as a high performance on sharp courses. No shipbuilder has ever solved such a problem - for example, the 90-meter mast mounted on the yacht deck weighs a little less than a "Challenger 2" battle tank and is twice as tall as the Alexander Column in St. Petersburg. Interestingly, the yacht keeps two of its radio-controlled models for guests' amusement, allowing for races between them. Another unusual feature is the presence of not one, but two pools (one with outside water, the other with heated water).
