Old vs. New!
X-41 vs. XR41
X-Yachts returns to its roots
The Danish boatbuilder X-Yachts, long known as the leader of the performance cruiser class but not producing a serious race boat in many years, has declared “we return to our roots” with its own slogan and re-entered the racing class by launching the XR41 model.
Among the models they have produced so far, perhaps the best-selling and highly successful race boat is the X-41. Though it has rather traditional lines compared to the new model, it still challenges the XR41 in races. The XR41 has only just begun to compete, and there is already an order from Turkey. One of the teams that placed this order, Repacco Sailing Team, is currently racing in the Gold Cup being held in Denmark, using a chartered X4.3 MK2. This also gives them the opportunity to closely observe the XR41. İts unlucky to not catch a chance to rent an xr41 for the gold cup.
The XR41 is a boat designed specifically to compete in the ORC class and has competed in two races so far, never missing the podium. However, the boats it has outperformed so far, although familiar and competitive, are from a previous generation of race boats with semi-displacement hulls and no chine design—such as the Swan 42 and X-41. Its success against these boats is expected, but what we are eagerly awaiting is how it will perform against its real segment rivals. So who are the real segment rivals of the XR41?
Although it is very fast, it is not a purebred racing machine—it is a performance cruiser. In my opinion, based on polar values and its segment, the boats that come to mind as rivals include:
• Mat 1220
• Mat 1180
• ClubSwan 42
• ClubSwan 43
• Grand Soleil 44 Performance
• JPK 1180
• J/111
• Italia Yachts 11.98
However, when the XR41 begins to race in the ORC class in Turkey, the boats it will face as competitors will include:
• Ker 40
• Farr 40
• X-41
• TP52
• Mat 12
• Mat 1180
• Bolt 38
There will be many boats it will go up against. Based on the race results I’ve reviewed so far and the technical specifications of the boat, I believe that even though it’s not exactly in the same segment, it won’t be able to match the Ker 40 boat-to-boat, and it won’t outperform the Farr 40 purely based on rating. Because the biggest disadvantage of this excellent performance cruiser is its weight—despite having an ambitious sail area and a bowsprit. For this reason, against light displacement asymmetrical setup boats and older-generation symmetric setup boats, I don’t think it will storm the leaderboard unless it carries a very well-trained crew.
Looking at the technical specs of the XR41:
• Length: 12.75 m
• Beam: 4.18 m
• Draft: 2.40 m
• Displacement: 7150 kg
• Ballast Ratio: 37%
• Mainsail Area: 59 m²
• Jib Area: 49 m²
• Asymmetrical Spinnaker: 180 m²
In this context, when compared to the Ker 40, it’s almost 2 tons heavier and has nearly 40 m² less downwind sail area. With its V-shaped hull and asymmetrical rigging, I don’t think it has a big advantage over older-generation Farr 40s with symmetrical spinnakers. Especially since it’s optimized for ORC, I’m curious to see how it will perform in IRC races.
What about the future?
The XR41 is a very successful performance cruiser, but its price is quite high. When it races in mixed fleets similar to the Turkish fleet, I don’t think it will top the list. Based on the company’s history of applying MK versions to many of its past models, I strongly believe that X-Yachts will release an MK2 version of the XR41 as well—possibly by reducing the interior furniture and extending the mast. Only then do I foresee it being more competitive with the boats I mentioned it currently can’t quite surpass.
Going back to the Gold Cup race, after the first day of 3 Olympic course races, the XR41 leads with 5 points, while the second-placed X-41 has 7 points, including one 1st-place finish. This reminds me of another legendary event.
The legendary race boat of the 1990s, Bruce Farr’s Farr 40, was actually the second generation of that model. The design was so good that the third version, the Farr 400—whose first hull was launched in 2010—was a major disappointment compared to the earlier Farr 40. Perhaps it was Bruce Farr’s most notable failure.
Is the XR41 about to follow a similar path? Or will it become a true legend? Time will tell. But the real answer will become clear with its performance in European offshore races like the Rolex Middle Sea Race or the Aegean 600. I am eagerly following this process and suspect that a Mk2 modification is already on the way.
The Gold Cup 2025 has finished, and I was excited to see the results of the racing fleet.
As expected, the XR41 lead the podium, but when I checked the race times, I noticed that the older generation X-41 is still impressively fast. If the races had been scored under the IRC system, the winner would not have been the XR41.
The time difference between the two boats was not satisfying, especially on the short-distance Olympic courses. In the second race, the XR41 lead the fleet and finished the course in 33 minutes and 55 seconds. The X-41 crossed the finish line at 34 minutes and 7 seconds. This minimal time gap is not enough for a brand-new, well-designed boat to truly stand out.
In fact, across five races, the older generation X-41 was still leading the fleet in two of them and ended the week in second place—competing against five XR41s in the fleet.
These results suggest that the XR41 still needs some further refinement. As a former X-Yachts owner (IMX38), I personally wouldn’t prefer to buy such an expensive boat if it can barely outperform an older generation X-Yacht.
But yes , she is pretty and fast. But is this reasons are enofe to buy a boat wich is over 500 thousand euros ?
