Come in on the sheet, up a little in the lull. Steady there. Puff coming in 3, 2, work it down in the pressure. The boat speed was climbing, and we had yet to see anything below double digits in our downwind run. A pump of the mainsheet and we were riding the latest wave nicely. I was onboard Formula X, hull one of the new X-Yachts XR 41. We were delivering her across a good portion of Denmark, from Haderslev to Helsingør: roughly 140 nautical miles, taking the route to the north through the Kattegat Strait, with the goal of arriving before sunrise and tackling that mileage in under 18 hours.
We’d passed through one, over the top of the second, and our final stretch would bring us into the last of the only three ocean inlets into the Baltic Sea. The water was an unsympathetic 53 degrees, balanced by a temporary sunny sky and the optimism of good breeze carrying through the night.
Another puff and we jumped up on plane. The instruments showed quickly flickering digits that climbed up to 16.4 knots before we finally fell off in the subsequent lull. 10.5 knots of boat speed was suddenly feeling slow. Her performance came at no surprise after she cleaned up at X-Yachts Gold Cup a day earlier (and would soon win the Sjælland Rundt, a.k.a. the Round Zealand Race, for which she was being delivered). Since that delivery, the XR 41 Formula X has also won the international German Championship at Kiel Week (with two other XR 41’s completing the podium lineup), and eXciteR, another XR 41, took the German ORC Offshore Championship title. As I write this, the ORC Worlds, hosted in Tallinn, Estonia, is only a few weeks away and will prove to be a strong test of the XR 41’s capabilities.
The XR 41 is designed to deliver results on the race course, but she is balanced out by also offering a fast cruising side (sport mode). A modular cruising interior is installed with thumb screws and quick connect fittings, no tools needed. This eliminates the compromise while racing, keeping the XR 41 lighter and the cabin free of clutter for cleaner spinnaker drops and sail stowage. A durable, yet warm walnut laminate veneer interior with a white smooth inner liner works well for both modes. The keel even has a window that can be faired or have extra ballast added for shorthanded sailing—the additional 1,014 pounds adds 10% more stability.
While more than the last decade has kept X-Yachts focused on performance cruising yachts, the XR 41 adds a new focus to their lineup and reflects their history. X-Yachts came into existence because of the X-79, their first build that disrupted the racing world in 1979. The X-Yachts team is all in again with this same mission and it doesn’t take long to feel the energy around it at the factory in Haderslev.
The XR 41 is optimized for the ORC rating rule (focusing on category B, in particular), which immediately shows from a walk around her. At rest, a shallow profile curve forward delicately lifts her bow out of the water and decreases her static waterline length. The section at the transom is not flat at the bottom, but rather carries a V-shape, minimizing the initial stability, but making up for it at larger angles with a wide beam and chines: under sail the XR 41 is quite tender through the first 12 degrees of heel, but then locks in and feels tremendously solid, even as the large A2 spinnaker starts to load up on the six-foot fixed sprit. The extra heel in light air is also welcomed to decrease wetted surface area and induce shape in the sails.
Significant reserve buoyancy is carried in the bow, evident through a bulge in her forward topsides, and as we surfed through waves in the Kattegat and never buried the nose. The rudder is farther forward than expected; this also helps to keep her on her feet. The rudder positioning provides exceptionally good grip, even when heeled, by preventing ventilation (or air from entering the equation). This means better control, avoiding round-ups, and the further benefit of additional lift upwind.
X-Yachts was also careful to ensure that the twin composite Carbonautica wheels and Jefa steering deliver feedback to the helmsman: an important indicator that can help translate into extra speed with good helm-trimmer communication. Even in light air, the XR 41 talks. The helms can get loaded up in heavier air, especially with a spinnaker flying, but this is the tradeoff to ensure the feedback is there across a wide wind range, and racing should be a little athletic after all. The cruising arrangement with the pin-head main, as opposed to the square-top, would certainly relax any higher loads.
Upwind, the XR 41 is quick off the starting line, ensuring clean lanes and a tactical advantage to catch the first shift…unless there is another XR 41, which is becoming more common as the growing list of orders are filled. Interestingly, there is no intention of creating a one-design class. The philosophy is that this provides flexibility to meet rule changes in the coming years and affords space to continue to innovate, outside of the hull itself.
The hull is vacuum-infused, post-cured epoxy construction. A foam core is secured within biaxial E-glass skins, with local E-glass and carbon fiber unidirectional reinforcements (strategically positioned for strength and weight optimization). Structural components carry the same theme of a post-cured epoxy matrix, and the extensive use of carbon reinforcements throughout. Signature to X-Yachts, the XR 41 also includes a hot galvanized steel frame that unifies the keel, hull, and keel-stepped carbon mast into a unique stiff arrangement, which also offers the convenience of a single lifting point for hauling.
Below deck is simple in race mode. Twin aft cabins sport pipe berths (optional) and are otherwise empty, outside of some storage wells. The salon is spacious and made safe in a seaway by twin leaning bars either side of center. Outboard of those rest two bunks per side, stacked one above the other (these can also function as sail/gear stowage). The galley is midships and to port, with an icebox (integrating an air-cooled Danfoss compressor and cooling plate) and a two-burner gimballed induction cooktop, made possible by the standard lithium house battery bank (24 volt, 200Ah). Options extend to adding a smart oven, air fryer, and Nespresso machine. Minimal, but adequate, storage is integrated below the counter in the form of drawers and lockers. The sink is modular and removed when racing.
Across from the galley and to starboard is the head. While offering plenty of space, it is modest and sleek, with just a manual toilet, sink, mirror that extends the length of the storage cabinets, and drained floor. The forward cabin is reserved for sail storage while racing and is bare beyond structural components. An optional composite fairing secures inside the forward hatch to aid with snag-free spinnaker takedowns. While a fold-down chart table is included as standard, Formula X opted for the remote approach with just a changing station for a tablet, allowing the navigator to run Expedition software from anywhere onboard, collecting the B&G instrument data over Wi-Fi. The standard foldable salon table was also removed.
Ventilation is available through the large low-profile forward hatch, mirrored hatches over the galley and head, and two opening portlights in the salon. Small portlights also open into cockpit from each aft cabin.
The optional sport version changes from this spartan racing approach. The XR 41 is transformed by adding the cushioned v-berth, wardrobe units for the forward and aft cabins, doors, a second salon table, and shifting the salon berths to form L-shaped couches by lowering the upper berths, dropping in two settee modules and laying in the cushions. X-Yachts also offers a hot water and cockpit shower package, a Webasto heating system, and the option to double the capacity of the 24-volt lithium battery bank to 400Ah.
A collision bulkhead and aft bulkhead exist with access forward and aft through reasonably high reinforced openings. As with any build, these would best be sealed off for an offshore race, although the XR 41 does rate as a CE Category A (ocean) boat as built. Behind the aft bulkhead, best accessed from the cockpit hatches, is a large storage locker.
Above deck, the 13’9” beam and open transom provide plenty of room in the cockpit for maneuvers. A custom Sea Deck foam cockpit sole reduces fatigue and provides exceptional grip. Lifting angled helm platforms better the level of comfort for the helmsman. Molded nonskid covers the rest of the deck, which remains reasonably dry for her performance. The deck droops slightly towards the waterline forward of the mast and this, combined with the absent toe rails aft (comfortable for hiking), means that water sheds nicely from any wave action and helps keep the backsides of crew dry.
Control lines lead aft underneath the cabintop, maintaining a clear path to cross when tacking. The mainsheet echoes that approach, with a German-style system that remains hidden under the side decks, and is complemented with a near full width traveler. The jib leads are floating and may be adjusted in and out, as well as up and down, with two separate control lines per side. Further pit and primary winch flexibility is offered by optional Antal crossover blocks.
The racing version of the XR 41 requires running backstays to accommodate the square-head main, but the sport arrangement is satisfied with a single backstay. Control line adjustments and trimming is supported by eight Harken Performa winches, Ronstan blocks, and Spinlock clutches. X-Yachts also offers an extensive range of hydraulics packages for the XR 41 to assist with adjustments to the backstay, jib and main cunninghams, vang, outhaul. jib ring controls, and the mast jack. Halyard locks are also available, along with load cells, extensive instrument packages, and a wide array of sails.
The XR 41 is different—it breaks the mold from other designs and each aspect of it seems intentional and carefully considered. It’s quick, a blast to sail, and holds promise for continued impressive results: whether those are getting across the finish line first or arriving into the next harbor ahead of some bad weather.
Even with an ideal crew number between 10 and 12, and us with only 8, we still managed to tie up to the dock in Helsingør before 3am—well ahead of schedule. It was still dark and a dim light from one of the pilings allowed us to fold sails without headlamps. We were all ready for a nap, even though Formula X was still lightly dancing and prepared for more. The top speed record for the XR 41 still remains somewhere north of 20 knots; we didn’t quite get there, but you can be sure the next crew on board will be pushing for it, and I wish them luck in the races ahead.
Specifications
LOA/LWL 47’10” (including sprit), 41’10” (hull only) / 38’5”
Beam 13’9”
Draft 7’10” (alternatives in development)
Air Draft 65’3” (not including transducer/antennas)
Ballast 5,842 lbs
Displacement (light) 15,763 lbs
Sail Area (Sport) 1,066 sq ft upwind, 2,422 sq ft downwind
Sail Area (Race) 1,157 sq ft upwind, 2,659 sq ft downwind (excl. staysails)
Engine 30 HP Yanmar diesel
Designer XYachts Design Team & Partners
Builder X-Yachts, www.x-yachts.com
Price Euro479,600 (base), Euro677,048 (as sailed)
NB&G 2026
