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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.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL
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Howth 17 information

The oldest one-design keelboat racing class in the world is still competing today to its original 1897 design exclusively at Howth Yacht club.

Howth 17 FAQs

The Howth 17 is a type of keelboat. It is a 3-man single-design keelboat designed to race in the waters off Howth and Dublin Bay.

The Howth Seventeen is just 22ft 6ins in hull length.

The Howth 17 class is raced and maintained by the Association members preserving the unique heritage of the boats. Association Members maintain the vibrancy of the Class by racing and cruising together as a class and also encourage new participants to the Class in order to maintain succession. This philosophy is taken account of and explained when the boats are sold.

The boat is the oldest one-design keelboat racing class in the world and it is still racing today to its original design exclusively at Howth Yacht club. It has important historical and heritage value keep alive by a vibrant class of members who race and cruise the boats.

Although 21 boats are in existence, a full fleet rarely sails buy turnouts for the annual championships are regularly in the high teens.

The plans of the Howth 17 were originally drawn by Walter Herbert Boyd in 1897 for Howth Sailing Club. The boat was launched in Ireland in 1898.

They were originally built by John Hilditch at Carrickfergus, County Down. Initially, five boats were constructed by him and sailed the 90-mile passage to Howth in the spring of 1898. The latest Number 21 was built in France in 2017.

The Howth 17s were designed to combat local conditions in Howth that many of the keel-less boats of that era such as the 'Half-Rater' would have found difficult.

The original fleet of five, Rita, Leila, Silver Moon, Aura and Hera, was increased in 1900 with the addition of Pauline, Zaida and Anita. By 1913 the class had increased to fourteen boats. The extra nine were commissioned by Dublin Bay Sailing Club for racing from Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire) - Echo, Sylvia, Mimosa, Deilginis, Rosemary, Gladys, Bobolink, Eileen and Nautilus. Gradually the boats found their way to Howth from various places, including the Solent and by the latter part of the 20th century they were all based there. The class, however, was reduced to 15 due to mishaps and storm damage for a few short years but in May 1988 Isobel and Erica were launched at Howth Yacht Club, the boats having been built in a shed at Howth Castle - the first of the class actually built in Howth.

The basic wooden Howth 17 specification was for a stem and keel of oak and elm, deadwood and frames of oak, planking of yellow pine above the waterline and red pine below, a shelf of pitch pine and a topstrake of teak, larch deck-beams and yellow pine planking and Baltic spruce spars with a keel of lead. Other than the inclusion of teak, the boats were designed to be built of materials which at that time were readily available. However today yellow pine and pitch pine are scarce, their properties of endurance and longevity much appreciated and very much in evidence on the original five boats.

 

It is always a busy 60-race season of regular midweek evening and Saturday afternoon contests plus regattas and the Howth Autumn League.

In 2017, a new Howth 17 Orla, No 21, was built for Ian Malcolm. The construction of Orla began in September 2016 at Skol ar Mor, the boat-building school run by American Mike Newmeyer and his dedicated team of instructor-craftsmen at Mesquer in southern Brittany. In 2018, Storm Emma wrought extensive destruction through the seven Howth Seventeens stored in their much-damaged shed on Howth’s East Pier at the beginning of March 2018, it was feared that several of the boats – which since 1898 have been the very heart of Howth sailing – would be written off. But in the end only one – David O’Connell’s Anita built in 1900 by James Clancy of Dun Laoghaire – was assessed as needing a complete re-build. Anita was rebuilt by Paul Robert and his team at Les Ateliers de l’Enfer in Douarnenez in Brittany in 2019 and Brought home to Howth.

The Howth 17 has a gaff rig.

The total sail area is 305 sq ft (28.3 m2).

©Afloat 2020