The M5 departs Nanaimo's Departure Bay on Monday, Sept. 18 bound for Victoria. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

world's biggest

World’s largest single-mast sailboat heads south after overnight in Departure Bay

Sep 18, 2023 | 9:14 AM

NANAIMO — It was a brief stop, but still one which turned many heads towards Nanaimo’s harbour.

The M5, a 75 metre (roughly 250 feet) long and 88.5 metre (290 foot) high vessel, arrived in Nanaimo on Sunday, Sept. 17 and departed early Monday morning bound for Victoria as it continued its journey down Island.

It is due in Oak Bay Monday afternoon and previously moored off Hernando Island, near Campbell River, over the weekend.

Owned by Rod Lewis, owner of the Lewis Energy Group which is one of the largest natural gas producers in Texas, the M5 is comfortably the largest single-mast sailboat in the world with the speed to match.

While its listed top speed is 14 knots, Lewis is on record saying he’s gotten the ship up to 22 knots (around 40 kilometres per hour).

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In addition to its massive sail, featuring the largest mast and jib of any sailing craft ever built, two engines provide power and were used to move the vessel out of Nanaimo Monday morning.

While it’s unclear whether Lewis is currently aboard, the vessel comfortably sleeps 16 guests and 17 crew members.

Formerly dubbed the Mirabella V, the M5 was launched in November 2003 and completed the following year.

The boat has undergone several major refits including in 2013 and 2019.

The M5 is valued around $50 million, with annual operating costs of roughly $5 million.

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