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European Yacht of the Year: Luxury Cruiser, the Xc 38

'Xc-38 on a test sail' .

This year the European Yacht of the Year Award in the Luxury Cruiser category went to the company with SUCH a brief name, X Yachts, with their new Xc 38. They beat off strong competition from the Contest 57, the Nordship 350, the Sirius 35 and the Sunbeam 42.1.

Managing director Lars Jeppesen accepted the prize on behalf of the company on the first night of the Düsseldorf Boatshow. As usual, the jury for probably the most prestigious yacht-design contest in the world consisted of the managing editors and test experts from eighteen of the leading sailing magazines in Europe.

As well as viewing the yachts on land for the features that can be discerned there, the jury also take the yachts on test sails to consider how they perform.

The cruising range of X-Yachts has met with success before. The Xc 45 won the same award, the Luxury Cruising section of European Yacht of the Year Awards in 2009. Then came the Xc 42 and the Xc 50.

Now their newly introduced Xc 38 has done it again.

So what has spurred the judges on to making their decision?

Xc 38 deck from above - .. .

Maybe it's not one thing, but a culmination of many small improvements as they have introduced more yacht designs over the years. The Xcruising range all feature aft cockpit designs with classically styled bow and stern lines that maximise deck space.

Now the hull lines are deeper and have a V-section forward of the keel, for a comfortable motion and easy passage making. The larger hull volume over traditional X-Yachts design allows space for more powerful engines, larger tanks and greater battery capacity, enabling the Xc 38 to make extended cruising in comfort a reality.

However, the comfort has been achieved without seeming to sacrifice sailing ability. The new model can still provide the good response and thrilling sailing that has impressed sailors of X-Yachts in the past.

Her greater displacement demanded a large sail area and her shallower draft required a heavier keel bulb. All this was delivered in order to achieve a yacht that was ‘stiff’ but also forgiving, and, most importantly, easily manoeuvred by a couple.

X-Yachts admits that the 'only compromise over the Xperformance designs is her sailing ability in very light airs.'

Xc 38 Interior layout - .. . Click Here to view large photo

Below decks she has a comfortable two cabin layout with a well appointed galley and mahogany joinery. There's a large aft bathroom offering access to a huge cockpit locker, and space for a washing machine if you want it - and all that in a 38ft yacht!

With the introduction of the Xc 38, X-Yachts has completed its cruising range, and the company puts the introduction of the range as a reason why they have weathered the downturn in the market caused by the Global Financial Crisis.

To find a dealer near you who can talk to you more about the Xc 38, click here.

by Nancy Knudsen

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8:36 AM Mon 7 Feb 2011 GMT

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