RON HOLLAND TO GIVE MIRABELLA V TALK IN AID OF RNLI

Friday, May 27, 2005. Kinsale based Yacht designer Ron Holland will give an illustrated talk on ‘Creating Mirabella V’ at a lunch sponsored by Irish Distillers in aid of the RNLI in the new Clarion Hotel, Lapps Quay, Cork. The event will be dedicated to the memory of accomplished yachtsman Jim Donegan, a committed RNLI supporter and fundraiser.

The 75 metre (245 foot) Mirabella V, the largest single masted sailing yacht in the world, was a pioneering design and engineering project. Ron Holland and his Kinsale based design team were responsible for the naval architecture, styling and interior design of the yacht. In his presentation, Ron will outline the creation and construction of this amazing yacht. He will then explain the background to the grounding of the yacht in S. France last year, which will be of particular interest to sailors. In conclusion, Ron will take the audience on a tour of this ultra luxurious yacht, and the lifestyle on board that explains why the yacht is almost fully booked for the coming charter season in the Mediterranean.

Jim Donegan, solicitor, first class sailor, and champion of the Lifeboat Service inIreland was involved with the Cork City fundraising Branch for over 40 years, where he was Secretary of the Cork branch for the past 25 years. Jim organised and ran the Cork Flag Day collection every year and was awarded Silver, Gold and Bar to Gold Badge Awards in recognition of all his fundraising efforts. His passing is a huge loss to the lifeboat service in Ireland.

Tickets cost 50 euro per head/500 europer table of 10 and are available from Anne Sweeney asweeney@rnli.org.uk, +353.87 979936 or +353.21 4661195