SAILS 11 PUBLISHED DECEMBER 2011

X-ceptional

The latest Xp 44, with the “p” signifying performance, is the first of an eXceptional new Xp range, leaping clear of previous X designs with sharp, contemporary lines drawn for offshore speed.

Text by Anthony Twibill Photography by X-Yachts

The Danes have long been seafarers, sailing far from the their small homeland in the cold waters of the North Sea. These maritime traditions have forged great skills in yacht building over the years, and in today’s modern world, X-Yachts of Denmark are highly regarded for the performance, comfort and quality of their recreational sailing yachts.

They are not a large yard on a global scale, producing only around 300 boats a year, with a cruising range from 38 to 50 feet, two one-design racers – the X-35 and X-41, and the “Xp” performance range spanning 34 to 65 feet. The Xp 44 yacht profiled here is the first of an all-new Xp series, with a smaller Xp 38 also due to arrive in our waters, and a third and larger Xp 50 new model due to launch in 2012. With typical production runs of 9 to 13 years for an X-Yachts model, the ‘new look’ for the Xp line will become most familiar over time, hopes local importer Andrew Parkes of X-Yachts Australia.

The new design of the Xp 44 has been orientated around winning under IRC (and the increasingly popular ORCi) handicap systems from the first stroke of the designer’s pen.

As the “p” insignia suggests, the “Xp range” has long been focused on sailing performance, with the boats optimised to deliver winning results under various ratings, and built with that particular Danish attention to detail for which the yard is well known.

While more regularly seen in European waters, the “X” brand has become increasingly popular in our southern seas, particularly their racing-focused range which has succeeded with many competitive regatta performances to their credit. But being a less seen yacht Down under means much mystery, and some misconceptions, still surround X-Yachts on our waterways. Among racing yachtsmen widely read on global yachting brands, an X-Yacht is without doubt one of those high-quality European yachting brands towards which one aspires. As with many of its Northern European counterparts, there is at times a misconception that an X-Yacht may be too eXpensive, perhaps even too eXotic to sail in our part of the world?

Sitting high in the cockpit.

But just go for a sail on the brand new Xp 44 and such doubts will be dispelled as swiftly as the wake streaming behind this most satisfying new sailing thoroughbred. This is a truly stunning and reassuring yacht to sail, with no doubt as to its performance pedigree, now packaged in a svelte new suit that is both supremely stable underway, as well as light, fast and strong for ocean conditions. This is no lightweight “Med-boat” or inshore cruiser! Dramatically more contemporary than its closest predecessors in the X-Yachts line up, the Xp 44 is as appealing to the eye at anchor as it is under full sail. From the pen of UK-designer James Day, the new boat’s hull presents a long, efficient waterline with plumb bow entry, coupled with a beamy mid section running fully aft to a vertical transom for maximum downwind performance. Designed as such, the Xp 44 is a much more powerful yacht for reaching and running than any of her predecessors, and in the realm of ocean racing, or even fast passage-making, downwind speed is more important than ever to be competitive in today’s race and regatta circuit.

The new boat’s hull presents a long, efficient waterline with plumb bow entry, coupled with a beamy mid section running fully aft to a vertical transom for maximum downwind performance.

The new design of the Xp 44 has been orientated around winning under IRC (and the increasingly popular ORCi) handicap systems from the first stroke of the designer’s pen. It is both a stronger and lighter boat than its forebears with an epoxy hull of E-glass strategically positioned for strength and weight optimisation, with an integrated carbon frame supporting a long iron fin keel and streamlined T-bulb keel. As such, greater weight is located far below the waterline resulting in a much-improved stability rating for offshore safety.

The significant design departure from the notably narrow beams and previous ‘go fast’ thinking of its still impressive cruiser-racer siblings such as the X-43, even the successful X-41 One Design, suggests a new approach to all round sailing performance from the Danish yard. The lines of the Xp 44 incorporate the latest thinking in sailing design and equipment fit-out, packaged into a large (and luxurious) vessel with sufficient displacement – 8,650 kg light – to sail fast, and a long waterline length to smooth the lumps of offshore swells.

The saloon and nav station.

In fact, for an owner and family, or a short-handed racing crew, the Xp 44 is in my opinion the ideal length for a usable cruiser-racing yacht intended to regularly undertake long ocean passages and offshore racing campaigns. A smaller yacht has more issues addressing the swells and ocean chop, with less waterline and weight to smooth the seas and the hobby-horsing effect of smaller yachts adversely affecting average boat speed. Whereas, much larger yachts require more crew aboard to handle the larger sails aloft and all-round crewing pressures of a yacht greater than 50 feet or so.

Like so many X-Yachts around the world, the owners can never resist calling them a name including “X”. The first Xp 44 recently delivered into Australia is called “XS Moment” and given its home port is Newport on Sydney’s Pittwater, an equally apt name could have been “INXS”, as Sydney’s northern beaches are also the origin of the world famous Australian rock band.

The owner of “XS Moment” wasn’t shy on the options list either with “XS” being the operative word as he specified his ultimate personal X-Yacht. First among the options is a towering Southern Spars carbon mast and boom, supported by discontinuous rod rigging, reducing overall weight aloft and thereby further improving stability and the righting moment under sail. (A fractional double spreader alloy mast and boom are standard for the Xp 44). He also specified Hood Sails, featuring the latest high-tech Dimension Polyant D4 composite laminate sailcloth. For maximum ease of controlling mast bend and thus sail shape, the owner equipped the yacht with a Holmatro electro-hydraulic backstay, although standard boats would normally be fitted with a manual Navtec backstay. The owner also opted for the deep 2.65 metre keel, rather than the standard 2.3 metre fin and bulb, for superior upwind sailing performance.

So, the big question – how does she sail, for an all-new design with that much top-end sailing tech on board?
When reviewing sailing yachts, it almost goes without saying that the day’s breeze, or lack thereof, can make or break an impression under sail. Well, on a perfectly clear day in Sydney with pressure an almost ideal 12 knots from the north, the conditions were heaven sent for sailing.

I was expecting a lot from the Xp 44, after all this was the very latest, highly specified 44-foot X-Yacht performance model, but my first, and lasting, impression was much more than I had reason to expect.

Sailing upwind in the prevailing 12-knot conditions we made a good 7.5 to eight knots of boat speed, even with the heavy headsail up rather than the lighter, more powerful genoa. We easily set into a comfortable groove at a true wind angle settling between 35 to 40 degrees, with a truly superb, light and positive feel through the twin carbon helm wheels. This is fingertip sailing at its finest.

Above 7.5 knots boat speed, the hydrodynamic flow over the fin provided assuring stability in both heel and direction, with steering within the optimal “groove” a breeze – so much so that the Xp 44 should make any skipper look, and feel, much better than he or she actually is!

Tacking was effortless and with that significant eight and half tonne (light) displacement, stability through every turn onto a new heading was pleasingly consistent and stable for helmsman and crew. Even so, for a 44-foot yacht the displacement is actually relatively light, providing good acceleration from the power provided by a 60m2 main and 47m2 106% Genoa, while retaining class-leading stability from the deep keel below and lightweight carbon rig above.

As the breeze held around 12 knots all morning, we didn’t see much more than sevens and eight knots upwind (albeit impressive), but we did accelerate briefly to double figures while bearing away and reaching at up to 150 degrees true, again remarkable performance for a large, luxury cruiser-racer in such moderate pressure. Turning downwind for home, we hoisted a masthead asymmetric spinnaker, which attaches at the foot to a sturdy - and equally stylish - carbon bowsprit designed by X-Yachts so as not to need a bobsked support. True wind eased to 11 knots and boat speed on the square 180 degree run was around nine knots.

All the winches and deck gear are quality Harken and Spinlock brands, and a special feature that I particularly noted is all control lines are duplicated on port and starboard, making them adjustable by crew from either side depending on the prevailing tack. All winches are self-tailing and can be electrically optioned to make life a little easier, and a skipper-pleasing feature is the mainsheet system that leads under the deck to winches placed either side in easy reach of the helmsman.
Sailing inshore, with moderate breeze and minimal seas, the Xp 44 was hardly put under pressure during our sail, but the feel, feedback and ever-present stability provides reassurance that this confidence-inspiring yacht would feel equally safe and secure offshore in the ocean swells and much more punishing pressure.

The yacht makes no obvious compromises in its sailing performance for its most comfortable, large interior, which features a spacious saloon and three-cabin arrangement, with two heads. A particularly clever touch I thought is the nav station that slides back so as to extend the saloon lounge to an additional bunk if required. Every amenity can be specified, including air-con and water-maker for long-range cruising, but the standard specification for the saloon, galley and cabins is luxuriously up to X-Yachts high standard.

For racing yachtsmen seeking one of the latest performance yachts on the market with more than a touch of luxury below decks, the Xp 44 is a strong contender as a finely honed, new cruiser-racer with a competitive IRC rating of 1.149. It promises exciting sailing performance for a 44-footer, and is capable on pure boat speed, let alone it’s rating, of upsetting quite a few of the current crop of comparable cruiser-racers; I would guess even some above fifty foot. And after all, Aussies and Kiwis love nothing more than punching above our weight!

At $550,000 for the base boat (plus about $100,000 of options on this particular highly-specified example) the Xp 44 is not inexpensive, but it does promise premium performance and great offshore yachting capability in a most comfortable, indeed luxurious, environment. And then, there is always that X-factor and undisputed pedigree of owning and sailing one of recreational yachting’s greatest ocean thoroughbreds.

Specifications XP 44
Designer James Day / X-Yachts
Hull length 13.29 m / 43.60 feet
LWL 11.89 m / 39.01 feet
Beam 4.07 m / 13.35 feet
Standard draft 2.30 m / 7.55 feet
Deep draft 2.65 m / 8.69 feet
Ballast 3,850 kg
Displacement light 8,650 kg
Engine diesel 40 HP
Water tank 400 Litre
Fuel tank 200 Litre
Main sail 59.6 m2 642 feet2
Genoa 106% 47.2 m2 508 feet2
Spinnaker 170 m2 1830 feet2
Price from AU$550,000