X-Yachts

X-Yachts A/S is a Danish shipyard, located in Haderslev in the southern part of Denmark. The shipyard builds sailboats between 35 and 65 feet.

History

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X5.6 in Gilleleje - Photo: Mikkel Groth

The shipyard was founded in 1979 by the brothers Lars Jeppesen, Niels Jeppesen and their friend Birger Hansen. The first boat, the X-79, got its name due to the length of the boat, which was 7.9 m (7.96 m), and because it was launched in the year of 1979. The boat was the Danish answer to J/24, Albin Express, and Maxi 80 Racer and has won many regattas since the first launch. A total of 468 X-79 were built between 1979 and 1994. The yard builds approximately 150 boats per year. The yard has built over 6,000 boats to clients worldwide since 1979.

X-Yachts employs a total of 100 people at the headquarter in Haderslev and has its own moulding production in Poland as well. X-Yachts has a global dealer network consisting of 40 independent dealers. In total X-Yachts employs over 250 people worldwide.

The majority shareholder of X-Yachts and owner since 2012 is Ib Kunøe's holding company Consolidated Holdings, which operates through a number of wholly or partly owned companies. X-Yachts current CEO, since 2018, is Kræn Brinck Nielsen.

Current Models

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Although the first boat was designed for regattas, the yard's main area is cruising boats, and today represents three series of sailing boats: Xcruising, Xperformance, and latest Pure X. In total, these three series represent a fleet of 9 boats from 40 to 56 feet. Furthermore, the yard introduced powerboats in 2021.


Xcruising was introduced in 2009. The Xc Series is intended for cruising and ocean navigation. The current Xc series consists of Xc 45 and Xc 50.

The production of the Xc 42 stopped in 2018.

The production of the Xc 35 and Xc 38 stopped in 2021.


Xperformance was introduced in 2011. The Xp Series is the equivalent of the Xc Series, where performance and speed are essential. The current Xp series consists of Xp 44 and Xp 50.

The production of the Xp 33 stopped in 2017.

The production of the Xp 38 and Xp 55 stopped in 2021.


The latest series is the Pure X Series, which was introduced in 2016. The Pure X Series is a hybrid between the Xc and Xp model, focused on easy sailing and modern lines. In total, the Pure X Series consists of 5 models, the X40, X43, X46, X49, and X56.


The Powerboat range, which was introduced in January 2021, is consisting of the X-Power 33C. X-Yachts is planning to expand this range with 2 more powerboats the following years.

Awards (current models)

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  • 2021: X40 - Cruising World, Boat of the Year (Performance Cruiser)
  • 2021: X40 - Sail Magazine Best Boats (Performance Cruiser)
  • 2020: X46 - Cruising World, Boat of the Year (Best Full Size Cruiser 45 - 55 ft.)
  • 2020: X40 - European Yacht of the Year (Performance Cruiser)
  • 2019: X49 - Cruising World, Boat of the Year (Best Full-Size Cruiser)
  • 2017: X43 - HISWA (Sailing Boat of the Year)
  • 2017: X43 - Cruising World, Boat of the Year (Best Full-Sized Cruiser Under 50 ft.)
  • 2017: X43 -Adriatic Boat of the Year (Performance Cruiser 42 - 60 ft.)
  • 2016: Xc 45 - Cruising World, Boat of the Year (Best Full-Size Cruiser under 50 ft.)
  • 2015: Xc 45 - Sailing Today Awards (Performance Cruiser)
  • 2014: Xp 44 - Sailing World, Boat of the Year (Midsize Cruisers (41-45 ft.)
  • 2013: Xp 50 - Adriatic Boat of the Year (Performance Cruiser 40 - 60 ft.)
  • 2009: Xc 45 - European Yacht of the Year (Luxury Cruiser)

Award nominated (current models):

  • 2021: X-Power 33C - Best of Boats Award (Best for Fun)
  • 2021: X56 - European Yacht of the Year (Luxury Cruiser)
  • 2019: X46 - European Yacht of the Year (Performance Cruiser)
  • 2017: X43 - European Yacht of the Year (Luxury Cruiser)
  • 2015: Xc 45 - Asia Boating Awards (Best Worldwide Production Sailing Yacht under 15 metres)
  • 2013: Xp 50 - European Yacht of the Year (Performance Cruiser)

Former Models

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Sortable table
Name Year Started Year Ended No. Built Hull Length (m) Notes
X-79 1979 1994 468 7.96 [1]
X-102 1981 1987 173 10.02
X-95 1982 1988 153 9.25
X-402 1984 1990 79 12.09
X-3/4 Ton Mk 1 1984 1990 84 9.98
X-3/4 Ton Mk 2 1985 1990 51 10.03
X-99 OD 1985 2004 605 9.96
X-One Ton Mk1 1986 1986 12 12.12 Base on the X-402 Hull
X-One Ton Mk2 1986 1989 12 12.12
IOR Two Ton One Off 1986/12/31 - 1 "Original Beckmann Stain Remover" first epoxy boat
X-452 1987 1991 20 13.92
X-372 1987 1992 120 11.28
X-119 1988 1992 74 12.00
X-342 1988 1994 105 10.21
X-312 1989 1994 64 9.24
60ft One-Off 1988 - 11 18.29 "Andelsbanken 88" ULDB Racer[2]
50ft IOR One Off 1989 - 1 15.23 "Andelsbanken 89" first pre-preg carbon
IOR One Ton One Off 1989 - 1 12.12 "Stockbroker"
X-512 1990 1995 17 15.57
40 ft One Ton 1990 1990 1 12.12 "Okyalos IX"
X-412 1990 2003 252 12.90
IMX 38 1992 2000 92 11.41
X-362 1993 2003 93 10.70
X-442 1993 2003 127 13.51
X-332 1994 2005 432 10.06
X-302 1994 2004 117 9.08
X-612 1995 2004 12 18.29
X-382 1995 2003 141 11.73
X-482 1996 2004 156 14.63
X-362 Sport 1998 2004 156 10.70
X-562 1999 2004 21 17.23
IMX 40 2000 2004 99 12.10
X-73 2001 2001 2 22.43
IMX 45 2002 2004 24 13.74
X-46 2003 2010 75 14.01
X-43 2003 2010 169 12.93
X-50 2004 2011 63 15.24
X-37 2004 2010 148 11.35
X-40 2004 2010 140 12.19
X-35 OD 2005 - - 10.61
X-55 2005 2012 34 16.76
IMX 70 2005 2005 1 21.40 Moulding by Green Marine (UK)
X-41 OD 2007 - - 12.35
X-34 2007 2013 144 10.36
X-65 2009 2014 6 20.01
Xc 42 2009 2018 99 12.81
Xp 33 2012 2017 40 9.99
Xc 38 2010 2021 61 11.58
X-65 2016 2021 3 19.18
Xp 38 2011 2021 83 11.58
Xp 55 2013 2021 13 16.76
Xc 35 2014 2019 30 10.36
X-40 Present N/A 11.50
X-43 Present N/A 12.57
X-46 Present N/A 13.50
X-49 Present N/A 14.50
X-56 Present N/A 16.58
Xp 44 Present N/A 13.86
Xp 50 Present N/A 14.99
Xc 45 Present N/A 13.29
Xc 50 Present N/A 14.99
X-Power 33C Present N/A 10.2

Milestone

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An X-79 won what was then the biggest yacht race in the world, the Sjælland Rundt, with almost 2,100 yachts competing.[3] The X-79 went on to become a one-design class with almost 500 boats built throughout the 190s.

In 1981 the X-102 was designed to race under the Three-Quarter-tonner Rule. X-102s won the Three-Quarter Ton Cup in Finland in 1981 (Soldier Blue) and in 1982, in Spain (Lille Du). A 'Sport' version of the X-102 was called the X-3/4 Ton and won the Three Quarter Ton Cup in 1985 (Sweden), 1987 (Holland), Italy (1988) and Greece (1989).[4]

Throughout the 1980s X-Yachts built many designs to Ton and IOR Rules, also winning the One Ton Cup in 1986 in Spain (Andelsbanken), and in Sweden (Okyalos, 1990).

X-99 yacht

In 1985 the X-99 was launched, which became an ISAF-recognized one-design, with 605 boats built.[5]

Seven of the top ten finishers of the 1987 Sjælland Rundt were X-Yachts.[6]

X-412 yacht

In 1990 X-Yachts launched a Performance Cruiser range, beginning with the X-412 and X-382.[7]

In the 1990s the IMS handicap rule became increasingly popular for racing. The IMX 38 was developed and launched in 1993, followed by the IMX 40 and IMX 45 in the early 2000s.[8] IMX designs competed around the world under both IMS and IRC ratings, including winning SORC in the USA in 1995 and 1997,[9] IMS European Championships in 1995, and the Rolex Commodores' Cup in Great Britain in 2002 and 2004.[10]

X-Yachts launched their first one-design racing yacht, the X-35,[11][12] in 2005, followed by the X-41 one-design in 2007.[13] Both became ISAF-recognized one-design classes.[14][15]

The IMX 70 was launched in 2005 as a 'one-off', built by Green Marine in the UK and fitted out in Denmark.[16]

In 2007 X-Yachts won a European Yacht of the Year Award with the X-55, a performance cruising design.[17]

In 2009 the first dedicated cruising X-Yacht was launched, the Xc 45, winning its category at the European Yacht of the Year. This was followed by three other Xcruising designs, with the Xc 38 also winning at the European Yacht of the Year awards in 2010.[18][19][20]

References

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  1. ^ "X-79 No 1 - Test sailing by founders" – via www.youtube.com.
  2. ^ "X-ONE one off x-yacht" – via www.youtube.com.
  3. ^ "How it all began". www.x-yachts.dk.
  4. ^ "Old Quarter Tonners". Boatdesign.net.
  5. ^ "X-99 Class report". ISAF www.sailing.org.
  6. ^ Somer, Jack (October 1987). "Sjaelland Revisited". Yachting. 4. 162: 103.
  7. ^ Kretschmer, John (November 2008). "Boat Test: X-382". Sailing Magazine.
  8. ^ Perry, Bob (August 25, 2000). "Perry Design Review: IMX 38". boats.com.
  9. ^ "ACURA SORC PAST RESULTS". www.premiere-racing.com.
  10. ^ "RORC Commodores' Cup results".
  11. ^ Boyd, James (27 October 2012). "New Yachts at Excel". The Daily Sail.
  12. ^ Robertson, Andi (12 September 2012). "X-35 Review". Yachts & Yachting.
  13. ^ Andrews, Alan (December 12, 2007). "X-41 One Design: Review". Sailing World.
  14. ^ "X-35 ISAF Recognized Class". www.x-35.com.
  15. ^ "Class Rules". www.x-41.com.
  16. ^ "IMX-70". Seil Magasinet.no.
  17. ^ Galgani, Vanni (30 Jan 2007). "X55, European Yacht of the Year". Sail-World.com/Fare Vela.
  18. ^ "Boot Dusseldorf European Yacht of Year Results 2011".
  19. ^ Knudsen, Nancy (7 Feb 2011). "European Yacht of the Year: Luxury Cruiser, the Xc 38". Sail-World.com.
  20. ^ Hodges, Toby (22 Jan 2011). "Yachts of the Year". Yachting World.
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