Wow

[floatingkiwi]

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Business/ht_ar_Maltese_080129_ssh.jpg

Now there is a concept.Raise the mains dear, while I put on some coffee.

[TimH]

I believe the technical term is fugly.

[Captain Intrepid]

Hell of a lot less though than sans sails.

[mmd]

TimH, to reinforce the old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think that the only fugly thing on that boat is the navigation mast on the bow. If one could find a more discrete place for radomes and lights so that ugly telephone pole could be tossed overboard, I think it would be a stunning ship. Different from the norm, with a novel rig, but sleek & purposeful.

I do realize, though, that some folks get pretty bent out of shape by conspicuous consumption. Scandalous amounts of money spent on large floating toys makes for fugly boats, it seems, and they schlepp away into the mists of ignominy. Sort of like that "largest private yacht in the world" butt-ugly private yacht of a few decades ago, Sea Cloud:

http://cruiselinehistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/sea_cloud-no_border104145445_std.jpg

<wink, grin>

[Tom Robb]

Yah, Michael, I'd have thought the antenna cluster could have been mounted on one of the masts.
I wonder how long it will get used before the owner gets bored and puts it on the market.

[TimH]

Sea Cloud is anything but fugly....

quite beautiful actually :)

[mmd]

Tom - I think that it has already been sold at least once.

Tim - some think Sea Cloud to be an overly-fussy, ugly, anachronism. Others don't. Same thing for Maltese Falcon. Simply a matter of taste.

[JimConlin]

When Sea Cloud was converted to commercial use (carrying turistas), some cabins were added on her main deck. These greatly confounded the process of sailing the vessel and the crew referred to them as 'the containers'.

I really like Maltese Falcon. The extra mast for the electronic jewelry is a necessary evil. The rig is quite innovative and if it works as hoped, it'll help both commercial and pleasure sailboats.

[gert]

Well since we're on the subject:
My personal favorite:
http://www.charterworld.com/images/yachts/MIRABELLA%20-%20Sailing4.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3623/3445385489_613e38afe5.jpg