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Nick Burnham of YouTube channel AQUAHOLIC has some very positive things to say about X-Yachts — and specifically the new X4³ which was on display at the Southampton International Boat Show in September.

As previously noted on Afloat.ie, the latest version of the X4³ sees the model get a serious makeover with a completely new hull and deck design, together with many other improvements since its successful predecessor.

If the X4³ looks like the boat for you, reach out to either Debbie Weldon or Stuart Abernathy at X-Yachts GB & Ireland.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL

Can’t make it the Southampton International Boat Show this year? If so, why not join X-Yachts and ‘Experience the Brand’ at its Open Week in Hamble after the show?

Between next Tuesday 27 September and Sunday 2 October, you’ll have the chance to view the X4⁰, X4³ and X4⁶ at Hamble Point Marina — with the possibility of a test sailing, subject to availability.

Register an appointment with Debbie Weldon, and in the meantime you still have a chance to catch Debbie with Julien Renault and Stuart Abernathy at the X-Yachts stand as the Southampton International Boat Show continues till this weekend.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL

There’s only a few days to go until the start of this year’s Southampton International Boat Show on Friday 16 September — and X-Yachts will be there in style.

As previously noted on Afloat.ie, you can see the latest, upgraded version of the X4³ at the X-Yachts stand M455.

The new X4³ has gone through a serious makeover with a completely new hull and deck design together with many other improvements since its successful predecessor.

X-Yachts GB & IRL team of Debbie Weldon, Julien Renault and Stuart Abernathy will be in attendance for the duration of the show, 16-25 September from 10am to 6pm each day.

The team will also be sharing details of the X5⁶ — the new sailing flagship of the Pure X Range — which is available for viewing offsite but strictly by prior appointment only. Contact Debbie to arrange a booking.

And don’t forget you can configure the X4³ and X5⁶ to your own specifications on the X-Yachts website.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL

X-Yachts returns to the Cannes Yachting Festival for 2022 with a bevvy of new and improved models on display from 6-11 September.
 
Experience the stylish power of the X-Power 33C — X-Yachts’ first foray into the powerboat market following its acquisition of HOC Yachts in late 2019 — at stand QSP141 in Cannes Vieux Port – Quai Saint Pierre.

And at stand Sail 197 in Cannes Port Canto, you’ll have the opportunity to jump onboard the Pure X flagship X5⁶, the family-friendly X4⁹ or the new-look X4³.

X-Yachts at Cannes Yachting Festival 2022 banner
 
If you can’t make it to the south of France, you’ll have another chance to get up close with some of the newest additions to the X-Yachts range at the Southampton International Boat Show from 16 September.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL

The latest, upgraded version of X-Yachts’ X4³ will be on display at the Southampton International Boat Show next month.

As previously noted on Afloat.ie, the new X4³ has gone through a serious makeover with a completely new hull and deck design together with many other improvements since its successful predecessor.

You can see the X4³ at the X-Yachts stand M455 during the Southampton International Bay Show from 16-25 September, where the X-Yachts GB & IRL team of Debbie Weldon, Julien Renault and Stuart Abernathy will be in attendance for the duration of the show from 10am to 6pm each day.

Also at the show will be the X5⁶ — the new sailing flagship of the Pure X Range — however viewing is strictly by pre-show booking only. Contact Debbie to arrange an appointment.

And don’t forget you can configure the X4³ and X5⁶ to your own specifications on the X-Yachts website.

 

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL

X-Yachts GB & IRL are delighted to announce that the first boats in the new generation X4³ model are now starting to arrive in Hamble.

As previously noted on Afloat.ie, the new X4³ has gone through a serious makeover with a completely new hull and deck design together with many other improvements since its successful predecessor.

To arrange a viewing aboard one, contact Stuart Abernethy at +44 7500 947896 or [email protected].

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL
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The atmosphere was tense when X-Yachts’ new X4³ was hanging razor-sharp in its centre lift at the yard in Haderslev, Denmark last week.

The moment was witnessed and toasted in champagne by X-Yachts dealers from around the globe, well knowing that this new member of the Pure X line will soon become the most popular model of all X-Yachts.

Prior to the launch, key riggers and boat builders worked hard to get the mast stepped and tuned, and to get the most necessary details ready for the first sea trials that were due on the following days.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the new X4.3 has gone through a serious makeover with a completely new hull and deck design together with many other improvements since its successful predecessor.

Needless today the whole yard — not least the design and engineering team — has been looking very much forward to the special moment when the beautiful new 4.3 hit the water.

Following the first day of testing design and engineering director Thomas Mielec said: “Our mast supplier John Mast has done a really nice job with the new aluminium mast that is 50cm higher than on the previous version of the X4.3.

“The mast trims to a well distributed prebend curve over the length of the mast and it’s as stiff as we like it – both in transverse and longitudinal direction.

“The new mainsheet traveller system — now upgraded with hardware from Ronstan and a 7:1 purchase — proved a very noticeable improvement on the main sheet trimming. A few points of further improvements with positioning of fittings, etc were identified in the first test and will be re-worked on the final boat.

The new X4³ is sailed out of the Haderslev yard for open water testing earlier this week

“The new hull design with wider transom and lifted soft chines suits the X4³ very well. The additional form stability is quite noticeable, as is the considerably less wake and turbulence of the heeled transom travelling through the water.

“At the helm you have a nice and direct feel. With slight adjustment to the responsiveness of the rudder, that shares the now updated design of the entire Pure X range rudders, helming this yacht will be a fantastic experience for the owners.”

X-Yachts chief executive Kræn Brinck Nielsen is just as happy as Mielec: “The first X4³ model sold more than 100 boats in four years and proved a fantastic success, but the new X4³ has already sold 23 pieces before we were even able to take the first real picture of the boat!

“We can’t wait to get her out in the market in 2022 after a full month of testing and adjusting the final bits of equipment to perfection.”

Contact Stuart Abernethy at X-Yachts GB & IRL to learn more about how to secure the next build slot for 2022 delivery.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL
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One of most popular X-Yachts models, the X4³, is going through a serious makeover process.

This boat was the first model in the Pure X range and was introduced to the world for the first time in 2016. Since then more than 100 have been sold globally via X-Yachts’ international dealer network.

X4³s can be found in Australia, Argentina, USA and Canada throughout the whole of Europe and in Russia and China.

Thomas Mielec, X-Yachts’ director of design and engineering, explains: “What we are developing now can be described as a smaller version of the X5⁶.

“The development of the X4³ is considered to be a natural evolution incorporating the lessons learned and the visual appearance of especially the X4⁶ and X4⁰, and after having launched the X56, we saw some opportunities for the X4³ that will lift her to an even higher level”.

Redesigned hull and S-bow design

The redesigned hull shape features wider stern sections above the waterline with the Bmax brought further aft and with soft chines. This increases the downwind performance and allows for a much wider cockpit aft.

Also, the S-bow design and integrated standard bow sprit as standard introduced by the X56 has been incorporated.

The mast height and hence the sail plan has been increased compared to the present model to add to the performance and keep her more in line with the other members of the Pure X range. The longer bow sprit allows for bigger and more free flying gennakers.

Deck and sprayhood

The deck and deck liner have been completely redesigned. The appearance of the coachroof and coamings is brought to the more modern styling of the other Pure X models — and beyond.

Deck plan of the new-look X-Yachts X4³

The deck layout features longitudinal jib tracks as standard, but a self-tacking track recessed into the cabin top — as known from the newer Pure Xes — is available as an option. However, when this option is not chosen, the recess will be covered so that the aesthetic flush appearance of the cabin top is maintained.

The cabin-side port lights are designed with the same type of openable sections as on the X4⁶ and X4⁰, allowing for better ventilation and a simpler aesthetic appearance.

The cruising sailor can look forward to a redesigned sprayhood layout. Apart from protecting the family from hard weather at sea, the shape of the sprayhood will offer a sleeker visual appearance and a better forward view for the helmsman than on previous designs.

Spacious cockpit

The cockpit area is wider and more spacious and at the companionway the hinged acrylic doors and integrated rope storage at the sides (known from the X4⁰) are adopted.

The interior

The revised hull shape and slightly raised cockpit floor allows for enhanced width of the berths in the aft cabin/s and the tables and wash basins in the heads have been improved and modernised, but apart from that only minor features will be redesigned in the interior of the X4³.

“There is no need to change things that work optimally, so for now, we decided to maintain the layouts of the interior,” Mielec says.

X-Yachts expects to launch the refreshed X4³ in January 2022, with prices stating from €344,000 ex VAT. Find out more on the X-Yachts website, and click HERE to request a call-back regarding this yacht.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL
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X-Yachts’ latest video tour goes ‘behind the scenes’ of the award-winning X4³ — looking below cushions, inside lockers and at systems and storage, for a greater understanding of what makes an X-Yacht an X-Yacht.

The vessel in question, toured with kind permission from the owner, is from 2018 and has been used for both family sailing and racing — and indeed was a class winner in Cowes Week — yet even after two years of regular use retains its fresh-from-the-factory appeal.

If this tour inspires you to begin your own X-Yacht journey, contact X-Yachts Ireland to arrange a viewing.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL
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X-Yachts GB & Ireland’s original plan to travel to Denmark at the end of March for the handover of a brand new X4³ was not to be — but the business adapted to the change for its latest happy customers.

Despite the yacht being full rigged and ready to go, it quickly became apparent that collecting it from Denmark was not going to be as logistically easy as in 2019.

Instead, the X4³ was de-rigged, loaded to road transport, and brought back to Hamble for local commissioning.

During the period of lock-down, the vessel was slowly commissioned, and prepared until such times it could be launched and rigged.

After a day of systems handover, and test sailing, the X4³’s proud new owners Richard and Anne were delighted to be day sailing from Hamble, and getting to know their new yacht XETA in these perfect sailing conditions.

“We are so pleased to be out sailing at the end of May,” they said. “When lockdown started, we thought it would take months. Big thanks to the team at X-Yachts for getting the boat from Denmark, commissioning her, and ready for the first day lockdown was eased, and we can go sailing.”

All new build 2020 X-Yachts remain on time from the factory, as production in Denmark was not stopped, therefore the next British and Irish owners have the chance follow this delivery procedure and get sailing as soon as possible in 2020.

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Sharks in Irish waters

Irish waters are home to 71 species of shark, skates and rays, 58 of which have been studied in detail and listed on the Ireland Red List of Cartilaginous fish. Irish sharks range from small Sleeper sharks, Dogfish and Catsharks, to larger species like Frilled, Mackerel and Cow sharks, all the way to the second largest shark in the world, the Basking shark. 

Irish waters provide a refuge for an array of shark species. Tralee Bay, Co. Kerry provides a habitat for several rare and endangered sharks and their relatives, including the migratory tope shark, angel shark and undulate ray. This area is also the last European refuge for the extremely rare white skate. Through a European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) project, Marine Institute scientists have been working with fishermen to assess the distribution, diversity, and monthly relative abundance of skates and rays in Tralee, Brandon and Dingle Bays.

“These areas off the southwest coast of Ireland are important internationally as they hold some of the last remaining refuges for angel shark and white skate,” said Dr Maurice Clarke of the Marine Institute. “This EMFF project has provided data confirming the critically endangered status of some species and provides up-to-date information for the development of fishery measures to eliminate by-catch.” 

Irish waters are also home to the Black Mouthed Catshark, Galeus melastomus, one of Ireland’s smallest shark species which can be found in the deep sea along the continental shelf. In 2018, Irish scientists discovered a very rare shark-nursery 200 nautical miles off the west coast by the Marine Institute’s ROV Holland 1 on a shelf sloping to 750 metres deep. 

There are two ways that sharks are born, either as live young or from egg casings. In the ‘case’ of Black Mouthed Catsharks, the nursery discovered in 2018, was notable by the abundance of egg casings or ‘mermaid’s purses’. Many sharks, rays and skate lay eggs, the cases of which often wash ashore. If you find an egg casing along the seashore, take a photo for Purse Search Ireland, a citizen science project focusing on monitoring the shark, ray and skate species around Ireland.

Another species also found by Irish scientists using the ROV Holland 1 in 2018 was a very rare type of dogfish, the Sail Fin Rough Shark, Oxynotus paradoxus. These sharks are named after their long fins which resemble the trailing sails of a boat, and live in the deep sea in waters up to 750m deep. Like all sharks, skates and rays, they have no bones. Their skeleton is composed of cartilage, much like what our noses and ears are made from! This material is much more flexible and lighter than bone which is perfect for these animals living without the weight of gravity.

Throughout history sharks have been portrayed as the monsters of the sea, a concept that science is continuously debunking. Basking sharks were named in 1765 as Cetorhinus maximus, roughly translated to the ‘big-nosed sea monster’. Basking sharks are filter feeders, often swimming with their mouths agape, they filter plankton from the water.

They are very slow moving and like to bask in the sun in shallow water and are often seen in Irish waters around Spring and early Summer. To help understand the migration of these animals to be better able to understand and conserve these species, the Irish Basking Shark Group have tagged and mapped their travels.

Remarkably, many sharks like the Angel Shark, Squatina squatina have the ability to sense electricity. They do this via small pores in their skin called the ‘Ampullae of Lorenzini’ which are able to detect the tiny electrical impulses of a fish breathing, moving or even its heartbeat from distances of over a kilometre! Angel sharks, often referred to as Monkfish have a distinctively angelic shape, with flattened, large fins appearing like the wings of an angel. They live on the seafloor in the coastal waters of Ireland and much like a cat are nocturnal, primarily active at night.

The intricate complexity of shark adaptations is particularly noticeable in the texture of their skin. Composed of miniscule, perfectly shaped overlapping scales, the skin of shark provides them with protection. Often shark scales have been compared to teeth due to their hard enamel structure. They are strong, but also due to their intricate shape, these scales reduce drag and allow water to glide past them so that the shark can swim more effortlessly and silently. This natural flawless design has been used as inspiration for new neoprene fabric designs to help swimmers glide through the water. Although all sharks have this feature, the Leafscale Gulper Shark, Centrophorus squamosus, found in Ireland are specifically named due to the ornate leaf-shape of their scales.