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Displaying items by tag: X yachts

X-Yachts is throwing this years biggest sailor party and X-regatta in Aarhus, Denmark from 17-20 August.

And this is your last chance to secure a ticket as registration closes on Tuesday 1 August.

Get ready for three days filled with racing, fun, social activities and, most importantly, some great days together with fellow X-sailors and enthusiasts.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL

X-Yachts is sponsoring this year’s ORC World Championships, which will be held from 4-12 August in Kiel, Germany.

Only one month after the opening of the registration portal, 70 yachts from 12 nations registered in January in the three divisions — Classes A, B and C — as well as a non-World Championship Class D.

X-Yachts made an early commitment to the ORC Worlds in Kiel. The Danish performance yacht builder has had close ties to regatta racing for decades, such as being a partner of the ORC World Championship in 2011 and 2014, and is one of the shipyards that also owes its importance and size to the successes their designs have enjoyed on the race course.

Kiel in Germany is renowned for hosting the cream of European sailing each year for the continent’s largest regatta, Kieler Woche | Credit: www.segel-bilder.de/Kieler WocheKiel in Germany is renowned for hosting the cream of European sailing each year for the continent’s largest regatta, Kieler Woche | Credit: www.segel-bilder.de/Kieler Woche

X-Yachts have and continue to excel on the race course. And with the X-79, X-99, X-35 and X-41 designs, the Danish yard has also launched large one-design classes, three of which have even been recognised as such by World Sailing, the governing body of the sport.

“Especially in Northern Europe, we have always provided the largest fleets at major championships. This year I hope for 20 per cent or more X-Yachts among the entries,” said Torsten Bastiansen, who will be racing his Sydbank, an X-35, in ORC Class C.

“I hope that we can continue the successes we had with our previous boats, the X-332 No Limits and an IMX-40 named Veolia. We can’t afford to miss a world championship on our doorstep.”

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL
Tagged under

Meet the X-Yachts team in Fredericia at Boat Show Denmark which takes place over the weekends of 24-26 February and 2-5 March.

Boat Show Denmark is the largest indoor boat exhibition in Denmark. The show is held every two years in Messe C, Fredericia and attracts boating and water sports enthusiasts from all over the country.

This year, X-Yachts will be attending the fair, presenting the X-Power 33C outboard. The performance yacht specialists will also be showing some of its newly launched X-Living range — an exclusive collection of interior products for the maritime life, inspired by Scandinavian style.

X-Yachts would love to see you in Hall A, Stand 1214 for a coffee and a chat.

Opening hours 24-26 February:

  • Friday & Saturday 10.00-18.00
  • Sunday 10.00-17.00

Opening hours 2-5 March:

  • Thursday 12.00-18.00
  • Friday & Saturday 10.00-18.00
  • Sunday 10.00-17.00
Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL

More details have emerged about the remarkable hull and deck design that makes X-Yachtsnew Xc 47 “the ideal bluewater cruiser”.

As previously noted on Afloat.ie, the Xc 47 marked a change in the design process for the Danish performance yacht specialists, utilising a full-size mock-up which heels at 20 degrees to either side to simulate how the boat works ergonomically.

That’s made for a cockpit layout that gives the helm the capability of handling all lines.

Four winches, two on each side, are positioned in front of the wheels. All relevant trim lines are led in channels under the deck from the mast to the steering position, with jammers reachable for the helmsman.

The traveller has been repositioned from the cockpit to in front of the sprayhood. Apart from creating an efficient workspace, this arrangement also leaves room for a comfortable living space, with the sail handling concentrated to the area at the helm station.

Another interior view of the Xc 47 showing the galley and dining areaAnother interior view of the Xc 47 showing the galley and dining area | Credit: X-Yachts

Near the transom, a large aft deck accommodates a comfortable full-width seating area behind the wheels, as well as a sunbathing area. As it should be on a true offshore yacht, the cockpit is deep, well protected and with a closed transom.

The hull lines maintain the deep V-shaped bow sections, generous rocker and higher stern overhang from previous Xc models, providing the well-known comfortable seagoing characteristics.

But the aft of the Xc 47 has a modern, wider stern section, incorporating a subtle soft chine that provides extra form and stability, improved performance and more space in the aft cabins.

The Xc 47 is also built from a full vacuum infused epoxy/e-glass sandwich, together with X-Yachts’ signature steel frame. Areas exposed to high loads are reinforced with carbon fibre, a part of making the yacht stronger without adding excess weight.

The first thing most people will notice when looking at the lines is the shape of the superstructure.

Sketch of the Xc 47 with its signature hull design, now with a wider stern for improved comfort and stability | Credit: X-YachtsSketch of the Xc 47 with its signature hull design, now with a wider stern for improved comfort and stability | Credit: X-Yachts

“We have introduced what we like to call a ‘semi-deck saloon’. This solution provides a better view of the surroundings, when under deck with more natural light, and an opportunity for multilevel floors,” says Thomas Mielec, director of design and engineering at X-Yachts.

To make sure the Xc 47 is capable of carrying provisions for long periods of time, the yacht has efficient storage volumes hidden behind the sturdy, yet elegantly crafted surfaces of the interior.

X-Yachts chief executive Kræn Brinck Nielsen adds: “Danish design and architecture are famous for clean and timeless style, and X-Yachts has always been a part of this tradition. X-Yacht owners often talk about a ‘special X feeling’, something that greets you every time you step on board.

“We know this feeling, and for us, it's a constant process to refine and enhance it each time. When looking at the Xc 47, I’m proud of how far we have come.“”

Orders are now open for the new Xc 47 for delivery in spring 2024 at the limited launch price of €750,000 ex VAT. To express your interest, get in touch with Debbie Weldon or Stuart Abernathy at X-Yachts GB & Ireland at [email protected].

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL
Tagged under

Earlier this month, a privileged view were treated to the latest on X-Yachts’ new Xc cruiser when the doors of its Haderslev HQ were opened for exclusive tours.

Now the Danish yachting specialists have revealed to the world further details of the Xc 47, which it says marks the beginning of “a completely new generation of X-cruising”.

“In short, Xc 47 is an elegant high-performance cruiser, built for safe and comfortable sailing on the oceans,” says Thomas Mielec, director of design and engineering at X-Yachts. “Immense focus has been placed on the design to make shorthanded sailing safe and easy.

“Many of our customers share a dream of heading off on a long cruise, often around the world. With this yacht, they will be ready and able to achieve this whenever the opportunity arises.”

The differences in the Xc 47 begin with the design process, Mielec adds, referencing the full-size mock-up which heels at 20 degrees to either side to simulate how the interior works ergonomically.

“As far as I know, we are the only yard that has ever done that,” he says of the mock-up. “This has given us a unique test platform, with the opportunity to test different design scenarios in real-life situations.

“Being able to move around in a physical environment, eliminated numerous lengthy discussions, as everyone could feel and sense right away, what the right solution should be. Not only under conditions as they are when the yacht is docked, but also how things work during sailing when the boat is heeled over.”

Orders are now open for the new Xc 47 for delivery in spring 2024 at the limited launch price of €750,000 ex VAT. To express your interest, get in touch with Debbie Weldon or Stuart Abernathy at X-Yachts GB & Ireland at [email protected].

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL
Tagged under

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

X-Yachts director of design and engineering Thomas Mielec hosts a guided video tour of the interior mock-up of the premium yachting brand’s newest Xc cruising model.

“It has been clear from the beginning of the project that the deck layout and the interior was gong to interact in a quite unusual way for us, given that we have this semi-deck saloon layout,” he says.

“The mock-up makes it possible, in a much more straightforward way, to communicate the design intentions of the interior concepts.”

The mock-up is also designed to heel at 20 degrees to either side to simulate how the interior works ergonomically under a heel “which is a quite important aspect for a true blue-water cruiser”.

Find out more details about the new Xc when X-Yachts opens the doors of its Haderslev headquarters for a weekend of private tours next month.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL
Tagged under

If you missed X-Yachts at the Southampton International Boat Show last month or its Open Week in Hamble last weekend, there’s anther chance to experience the brand up close — this time in its home country.

Join Stuart Abernethy and Debbie Weldon at the X-Yachts facility in Haderslev, Denmark on the weekend of 5-6 November where you can immerse yourself aboard your X-Yacht of choice — from the X4⁰, X4³ (2022 edition), X4⁶X4⁹, X5⁶ and X-Power 33C — within the comfort and safety of the heated indoor showroom.

Stuart and Debbie will conduct your private tour of the production facility, with various X-Yachts at different stages of completion. Learn about our construction process, and importantly why X-Yachts builds the way they do.

You can also relax in the dedicated “X-Lounge” area, with complimentary snacks and beverages throughout the day.

To book your tour, get in touch with Stuart or Debbie at [email protected] or call +44 23 8045 3377 or +44 7500 947 896.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL
Tagged under

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
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Aquaculture Information

Aquaculture is the farming of animals in the water and has been practised for centuries, with the monks farming fish in the middle ages. More recently the technology has progressed and the aquaculture sector is now producing in the region of 50 thousand tonnes annually and provides a valuable food product as well as much needed employment in many rural areas of Ireland.

A typical fish farm involves keeping fish in pens in the water column, caring for them and supplying them with food so they grow to market size. Or for shellfish, containing them in a specialised unit and allowing them to feed on natural plants and materials in the water column until they reach harvestable size. While farming fish has a lower carbon and water footprint to those of land animals, and a very efficient food fed to weight gain ratio compared to beef, pork or chicken, farming does require protein food sources and produces organic waste which is released into the surrounding waters. Finding sustainable food sources, and reducing the environmental impacts are key challenges facing the sector as it continues to grow.

Salmon is the most popular fish bought by Irish families. In Ireland, most of our salmon is farmed, and along with mussels and oysters, are the main farmed species in the country.

Aquaculture in Ireland

  • Fish and shellfish are farmed in 14 Irish coastal counties.
  • Irish SMEs and families grow salmon, oysters, mussels and other seafood
  • The sector is worth €150m at the farm gate – 80% in export earnings.
  • The industry sustains 1,833 direct jobs in remote rural areas – 80% in the west of Ireland
  • Every full-time job in aquaculture creates 2.27 other jobs locally (Teagasc 2015)
  • Ireland’s marine farms occupy 0.0004% of Ireland’s 17,500Km2 inshore area.
  • 83% of people in coastal areas support the development of fish farming
  • Aquaculture is a strong, sustainable and popular strategic asset for development and job creation (Foodwise 2025, National Strategic Plan, Seafood
  • Operational Programme 2020, FAO, European Commission, European Investment Bank, Harvesting Our Ocean Wealth, Silicon Republic, CEDRA)
    Ireland has led the world in organically certified farmed fish for over 30 years
  • Fish farm workers include people who have spent over two decades in the business to school-leavers intent on becoming third-generation farmers on their family sites.

Irish Aquaculture FAQs

Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants, and involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions- in contrast to commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish. Mariculture refers to aquaculture practiced in marine environments and in underwater habitats. Particular kinds of aquaculture include fish farming, shrimp farming, oyster farming, mariculture, algaculture (such as seaweed farming), and the cultivation of ornamental fish. Particular methods include aquaponics and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, both of which integrate fish farming and plant farming.

About 580 aquatic species are currently farmed all over the world, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which says it is "practised by both some of the poorest farmers in developing countries and by multinational companies".

Increasing global demand for protein through seafood is driving increasing demand for aquaculture, particularly given the pressures on certain commercially caught wild stocks of fish. The FAO says that "eating fish is part of the cultural tradition of many people and in terms of health benefits, it has an excellent nutritional profile, and "is a good source of protein, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and essential micronutrients".

Aquaculture now accounts for 50 per cent of the world's fish consumed for food, and is the fastest-growing good sector.

China provides over 60 per cent of the world's farmed fish. In Europe, Norway and Scotland are leading producers of finfish, principally farmed salmon.

For farmed salmon, the feed conversion ratio, which is the measurement of how much feed it takes to produce the protein, is 1.1, as in one pound of feed producing one pound of protein, compared to rates of between 2.2 and 10 for beef, pork and chicken. However, scientists have also pointed out that certain farmed fish and shrimp requiring higher levels of protein and calories in feed compared to chickens, pigs, and cattle.

Tilapia farming which originated in the Middle East and Africa has now become the most profitable business in most countries. Tilapia has become the second most popular seafood after crab, due to which its farming is flourishing. It has entered the list of best selling species like shrimp and salmon.

There are 278 aquaculture production units in Ireland, according to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) *, producing 38,000 tonnes of finfish and shellfish in 2019 and with a total value of €172 million

There are currently almost 2,000 people directly employed in Irish aquaculture in the Republic, according to BIM.

BIM figures for 2019 recorded farmed salmon at almost 12,000 tonnes, valued at €110 million; rock oysters reached 10,300 tonnes at a value of €44 million; rope mussels at 10,600 tonnes were valued at €7 million; seabed cultured mussels at 4,600 tonnes were valued at €7 million; "other" finfish reached 600 tonnes, valued at €2 million and "other" shellfish reached 300 tonnes, valued at €2 million

Irish aquaculture products are exported to Europe, US and Asia, with salmon exported to France, Germany, Belgium and the US. Oysters are exported to France, with developing sales to markets in Hong Kong and China. France is Ireland's largest export for mussels, while there have been increased sales in the domestic and British markets.

The value of the Irish farmed finfish sector fell by five per cent in volume and seven per cent in value in 2019, mainly due to a fall on salmon production, but this was partially offset by a seven per cent increased in farmed shellfish to a value of 60 million euro. Delays in issuing State licenses have hampered further growth of the sector, according to industry representatives.

Fish and shellfish farmers must be licensed, and must comply with regulations and inspections conducted by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Marine Institute. Food labelling is a function of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. There is a long backlog of license approvals in the finfish sector, while the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine says it is working to reduce the backlog in the shellfish sector.

The department says it is working through the backlog, but notes that an application for a marine finfish aquaculture licence must be accompanied by either an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). As of October 2020, over two-thirds of applications on hand had an EIS outstanding, it said.

The EU requires member states to have marine spatial plans by 2021, and Ireland has assigned responsibility to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government for the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF). Legislation has been drawn up to underpin this, and to provide a "one stop shop" for marine planning, ranging from fish farms to offshore energy – as in Marine Planning and Development Management Bill. However, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine confirmed last year that it intends to retain responsibility for aquaculture and sea-fisheries related development – meaning fish and shellfish farmers won't be able to avail of the "one stop shop" for marine planning.

Fish and shellfish health is a challenge, with naturally occurring blooms, jellyfish and the risk of disease. There are also issues with a perception that the sector causes environmental problems.

The industry has been on a steep learning curve, particularly in finfish farming, since it was hailed as a new future for Irish coastal communities from the 1970s – with the State's Electricity Supply Board being an early pioneer, and tobacco company Carrolls also becoming involved for a time. Nutrient build up, which occurs when there is a high density of fish in one area, waste production and its impact on depleting oxygen in water, creating algal blooms and "dead zones", and farmers' use of antibiotics to prevent disease have all been concerns, and anglers have also been worried about the impact of escaped farmed salmon on wild fish populations. Sea lice from salmon farmers were also blamed for declines in sea trout and wild salmon in Irish estuaries and rivers.

BIM says over 95% of all salmon farmed in Ireland are certified organic. Organically grown salmon are only fed a diet of sustainable organic feed. They are also raised in more spacious pens than traditional farmed salmon. The need to site locations for fish farms further out to sea, using more robust cages for weather, has been recognised by regulatory agencies. There is a move towards land-based aquaculture in Norway to reduce impact on local ecosystems. The industry says that antibiotic use is declining, and it says that "safe and effective vaccinations have since been developed for farmed fish and are now widely used". Many countries are now adopting a more sustainable approach to removing sea lice from salmon, using feeder fish such as wrasse and lumpsucker fish. Ireland's first lumpsucker hatchery was opened in 2015.

BIM says over 95% of all salmon farmed in Ireland are certified organic. Organically grown salmon are only fed a diet of sustainable organic feed. They are also raised in more spacious pens than traditional farmed salmon. The need to site locations for fish farms further out to sea, using more robust cages for weather, has been recognised by regulatory agencies. There is a move towards land-based aquaculture in Norway to reduce impact on local ecosystems. The industry says that antibiotic use is declining, and it says that "safe and effective vaccinations have since been developed for farmed fish and are now widely used". Many countries are now adopting a more sustainable approach to removing sea lice from salmon, using feeder fish such as wrasse and lumpsucker fish. Ireland's first lumpsucker hatchery was opened in 2015.

Yes, as it is considered to have better potential for controlling environmental impacts, but it is expensive. As of October 2020, the department was handling over 20 land-based aquaculture applications.

The Irish Farmers' Association has represented fish and shellfish farmers for many years, with its chief executive Richie Flynn, who died in 2018, tirelessly championing the sector. His successor, Teresa Morrissey, is an equally forceful advocate, having worked previously in the Marine Institute in providing regulatory advice on fish health matters, scientific research on emerging aquatic diseases and management of the National Reference Laboratory for crustacean diseases.

BIM provides training in the national vocational certificate in aquaculture at its National Fisheries College, Castletownbere, Co Cork. It also trains divers to work in the industry. The Institute of Technology Carlow has also developed a higher diploma in aqua business at its campus in Wexford, in collaboration with BIM and IFA Aquaculture, the representative association for fish and shellfish farming.

© Afloat 2020

At A Glance - Irish Aquaculture

  • Fish and shellfish are farmed in 14 Irish coastal counties
  • Salmon is the most popular fish bought by Irish families. 
  • In Ireland, most of our salmon is farmed, and along with mussels and oysters, are the main farmed species in the country.
  • The industry sustains 1,833 direct jobs in remote rural areas – 80% in the west of Ireland
  • Every full-time job in aquaculture creates 2.27 other jobs locally (Teagasc 2015)
  • Ireland’s marine farms occupy 0.0004% of Ireland’s 17,500Km2 inshore area.
  • 83% of people in coastal areas support the development of fish farming

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