Every X-Yacht is designed with performance in mind — and the X4⁹E is no exception.

The new update of the X4⁹ is the first X-Yacht built as a hybrid-powered yacht, and the first in a new range of electric-powered sailboats that the Danish performance yacht maker says is “a natural step” towards supporting a greener future.

The X4⁹E is fitted with 2 x 10 kW electric saildrives, a 28.8 kWh lithium battery bank and an onboard DC generator with capacity of 11 kW.

X-Yachts says the hybrid concept was chosen to make long-distance crossings possible without worrying about distance limitations.

It adds: “Based on our path of 42 years of innovative yachts and heritage, combined with Danish green and sustainable energy, we look forward to launching the first electric sailboat in May 2022.”

For much more on the new X4⁹E, see the X-Yachts website HERE.

A loose grub screw was apparently the reason why a Dutch owner of an X-Yachts X4⁹ experienced rudder failure while taking part in a transatlantic cruising race.

During the ARC January race out of Gran Canaria last month, the rudder stock fell out of the top bearing on the affected vessel.

In addition to the loss of steering, the movement of the rudder stock damaged the GRP tube which encapsulates the bottom bearing and forms a water seal towards the inside of the boat.

The crew contacted X-Yachts Holland via satellite phone for guidance in resolving the issue. They were unsuccessful in their attempts to reinsert the rudder stock not the top bearing and were only able to partially secure the top in position.

While they managed to steady the water ingress to a level where the bilge pump could keep up, the crew feared a worsening situation and the next day chose to evacuate the boat and board two other yachts which were attending the race.

Two days after the evacuation, the boat’s insurance company entered with a salvage company who found the boat afloat four days later via its tracker. The generator had stopped but the bilge pump was running and the water level in the boat was still below floorboard level.

The salvage crew got the rudder stock in place and secured in the top rudder bearing relatively quickly, and they had the leak repaired and the water pumped out, after which they could tow the boat towards Gran Canaria some 1,400 nautical miles away.

X-Yachts’ director of design and engineering Thomas Mielec, was ready to meet the boat in Gran Canaria and along with the salvage company and insurance company began a joint effort to identify the cause of the damage.

Diagram showing the structure of the rudder stock on the X4⁹

“The crew from the boat took photos and video in their attempt to repair the rudder, and it appeared that the top bearing had separated, and the rudder stock had dropped down,” Mielec said.

“The rudder bearing union nut, which holds the bearing together, had simply turned off the thread at the bottom of the inner housing, and this meant that the rudder and rudder stock, which are otherwise fixed in the bearing, had dropped downwards and out of the bearing.

”This happened even though the locking screw was in place in the union nut, and that with only one impression mark, ie without traces or burrs, which could indicate that the union nut had been turned off with the locking screw engaged. The other parts of the bearing showed no signs of overload prior to the incident in general.”

X-Yachts says it is still too early to draw a conclusion of the definitive cause of the damage, but Mielec suggests two possible scenarios based on the facts and observations found, with the second assessed as most likely:

1. If it is established that there is no trace of Loctite on the locking screw, one possible scenario is that, in error, the locking screw was never secured with Loctite during manufacture of the bearing, and that the screw, without being noticed, had loosened over a period of two years, permitting the nut to also unscrew over time.
2. If tests show that there were traces of Loctite in an expected amount on the locking screw, the cause could be that the safety screw had been removed/loosened by mistake during service work, which was carried out in Spain in November.

X-Yachts notes that the locking screw in question is only intended to be operated during the manufacturing of the bearing itself, and it is not necessary/permitted to touch during either assembly or possibly disassembly of the rudder in the yacht.

X-Yachts is offering a unique opportunity to get up close with its range of performance yachts — from the workshop to the showroom and beyond.

From Monday 28 February to Sunday 6 March, a select group of visitors to X-Yacht’s headquarters and boatyard in Haderslev, Denmark can immerse themselves abroad an X-Yacht of their choice — the X4⁰, X4⁶ & X4⁹ and 2022 edition X4³ — touching and feeling the details to understand what makes an X-Yacht an X-Yacht.

Get a glimpse behind the scenes, too, with a guided tour through X-Yacht’s production facility with various X-Yachts at different stages of completion including the X5⁶ & Xc 50.

Learn all about the construction process, and importantly why the company builds an X-Yacht the way they do.

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

Haderslev yard staff put the finishing touches on an X-Yacht hull | Credit: X-Yachts

The X-Yachts private tour package includes complimentary shuttle service from and to Billund Airport, an evening supper and one night’s accommodation for two in Haderslev.

Stuart Abernethy of X-Yachts GB & IRL will be in Haderslev to meet and greet you, and conduct your private tour of the X-Yachts facility. To book your our, contact Stuart at [email protected] or +44 7500 947 896.

X-Yachts has pulled out of exhibiting at next month’s boot Düsseldorf 2022, citing the “tense situation” around COVID-19 in Europe.

In a statement, the Danish performance yachtmaker said: “boot Düsseldorf is one of the world's largest boat shows, and X-Yachts is usually strongly represented at the show.

“At boot Düsseldorf 2022 we were looking forward to the world premiere of the New X4³ and also for the first time to display the X-Power.

“But — in respect of the tense situation with Covid-19 — we have made the decision not to display at the 2022 show.

“Of course, the consideration for the safety of guests and employees has our first priority, and instead of boot we are working on a number of exciting activities during the spring of 2022. We will come back with more info about this later.”

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 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.

X-Yachts will open the gates of its yard in Haderslev, Denmark next weekend Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 November for its next In-House Boat Show.

The showroom in Haderslev will be filled with some of the finest yachts the maker has to offer, while a privately owned X5⁶ — the flagship of the Pure X range — will be on the water for visitors to experience its design in its element.

In addition, the newly launched powerboat, the X-Power 33C, will be on display, both with and without its T-top.

And hear about news and technology from X-Yachts suppliers such as Raymarine, Furlerboom and many more. You can also peruse and shop for a range of X-Yachts clothing from Musto.

Light refreshments, including gourmet coffee, will be offered to guests both days — which will be open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

Registration is not required but anyone who wants to have a more in-depth talk with one of the sales team is encouraged to get in touch in advance via the X-Yachts website HERE.

Would you like to learn more about X-Yachts? The Experience the Brand event in Hamble this month is the next official viewing opportunity to get up close with a wide range of quality yachts.

Viewing at Hamble Point Marina outside Southampton will be open from 9.30am to 5pm daily from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 October.

Following that, your next chance to experience the Danish boatbuilders’ exceptional range will be on home turf during the In-House Boat Show event at the Haderslev yard next month.

The production area at X-Yachts’ Haderslev headquarters | Credit: X-Yachts

The premises will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 November, with the indoor showroom hosting the full X-Range and X-Power on display. Production area tours available by appointment.

Be sure to email Stuart Abernathy to reserve a time slot at your event of choice.

X-Yachts has announced its dedicated presence at the Southampton International Boat Show from 10-19 September, featuring the X4⁹.

Debbie Weldon and Stuart Abernathy from X-Yachts GB will be in attendance for the duration of the show, and visitors will find the X-Yachts stand at M452. Save time on the day and pre-register an appointment to view the X4⁹ HERE.

Pre-owned boats will also be available at various locations throughout the show, such as this Xp 33, X-34, Xc 35, Xc 38 and Xp 44 — with and Xc 45, X4⁰ and more due in soon. Get in touch with Stuart by email for more on these pre-owned yachts.

In the meantime, the Danish yacht builder is gearing up for the X-Yachts Gold Cup 2021 in Aarhus from this Thursday 26 August. The regatta programme and sailing instructions are available HERE.

X-Yachts GB have introduced a new summer gardiennage menu which will run in the Hamble area during the summer months.

“We hope this will further increase your enjoyment and maintain the value of your X-Yacht,” the company says of the service, which is aimed at time-poor owners.

The gardiennage menu is designed to cover all aspects of your X-Yacht, from scrubbing and pressure-washing your teak deck to cleaning of interior cabins, saloon and heads as well as sail cover and battery checks.

Optional extras include fuel tank filling, laundry service, gas bottle replacement, winch service and more.

It can be scheduled weekly, biweekly or monthly and tailored to suit your requirements. To make enquiries email Debbie Weldon at [email protected]

The Island Sailing Club put on a spectacular 90th anniversary party for the 2021 Round the Island Race, and there was an excellent turnout of X-Yachts in both the IRC & ISC classes — with some notable silverware won by the Xp 38, Red Five.

The huge fleet of over 1,200 boats showed how much people love taking part in this event. On the water there was everything from flat calm to 25-knot gusts, fog and sun.

And as with every Round the Island Race, nothing compares to the sight of the fleet stretched out around the stunning Isle of Wight coast.

Some of the X-Yachts owners who took park shared their thoughts with the yacht-builder HERE.

Meanwhile, it’s been busy at the half-year mark for X-Yachts in Hamble with five new yacht handovers to delighted owners in June.

The X4⁰ Chirp Chirp II was collected from the yard in Denmark in gorgeous sunny conditions. Her aim was fast comfortable cruising for two, between the UK and Finland, and that looks to be exactly how she has come out, as the owner commented: “She is great, we had a good first sail, boy she knows how to get speed. She has a lovely feel really looking forward to eating up miles next week, we are smiling a lot.”

Pelagia is the name of the X4³ that has been set up for a life in warmer climes, with a while hull and bimini for the sunny Aegean Sea. She is being transported down to Athens now, and will be ready for sailing adventures in the second half of this season.

Another X4³, Onyx II, was specified with a dark grey hull, Flexiteek on deck, a carbon mast and boom — and with the option of longer-distance racing in the future, lithium ion batteries were also specified. The owners commented that their first night on board was A1.

Another boat with impressive dark grey topsides is the X4⁶, Dash, which also has the Flexiteek option on deck and a gorgeous Nordic oak interior. Dash be kept in Hamble and used for family cruising and occasional racing. The owners took her through her paces in the Round the Island Race last weekend with help from X-Yachts’ own Stuart Abernethy as crew.

Last but not least, the Xc 50 Pelagos is specified for true blue-water cruising, with twin forestays for ease of use in all conditions, and air-conditioning and water-maker systems installed for comfortable life aboard. She will winter in Hamble and then sail to the Caribbean before reaching her home on the east coast of the US.

All of these yachts are now being enjoyed by their owners, clocking up many sea miles that they have been dreaming about over the last year during their build — and there are many more to come in the second half of 2021.

If you want to join them, learn more about X-Yachts and possibly view the latest models, follow the links to get in touch with X-Yachts dealers in the UK and Ireland.

Owners please note that the X-Yachts factory in Denmark will be closed for three weeks starting 19 July. During this time X-Yachts will be unable to order any specialist parts for your yacht. If you have any questions or want to order any parts prior, please call +44 (0)23 8045 3377 or email Nick at [email protected]