We tend to think of the Danish builder X-Yachts as the creator of high-end, Scandinavia-style cruising and racer-cruising yachts in the 40 to 60-foot range. So, it may come as a surprise that for the company’s first decades and more, they built very competitive racing boats with modest, useful cruising interiors.
The early boats were designed for the sailing needs of families of that era who spent summer weekends and vacations taking part in regattas, often with one-design fleets, and then kicking back with their sailing mates for informal parties ashore. Unlike today, living aboard and simply cruising was not the thing. That all changed, of course, and X-Yachts evolved with the times to create wonderful live aboard cruising yachts that can be raced.
In announcing the launch of the new XR 41, the builder is going back to its roots and mining all of that original DNA. The boat is planned for the 2025 season and the company intends to race it competitively in ORC and possibly IRC throughout Europe.
Of course, designing successful race winners under ORC and IRC is not new to X-Yachts. The Xp 44, X-41, IMX 38, IMX 40 and IMX 45 were all dominant on race course for years, and still are.
To make the 41 and her sisterships as competitive as possible X-Yachts has partnered with veteran racing skipper Jesper Radich who will skipper hull number one and will be in charge of team building.
So, while the new 41-footer is intended to be a winning racer, it will do so with all of the quality and fine craftsmanship that will also make it fun for a family to cruise from regatta to regatta just as they did decades ago. The sailing world just may be coming full circle. Read more here.
