X-Yachts 442

It began with a Le Mans start, with a thirsty crewman dashing down the marina with a slab of beer under his arm. For the sake of the coldies, we missed the start and spent the best part of the next 90 minutes playing catch-up sailing.

Not that anyone cared, mind you. Twilight racing at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is about mirth and merriment as much as being first home. But on the latest X-Yacht from Denmark, I found the racing was as much a part of the equation.

After grinding two-speed winches and performing fleet-footed tacks, we eventually made up lost ground. But only after we had reeled in half the fleet, doing nine knots upwind in 16kt of true nor-easter, was I ably rewarded.

Once we rounded the top mark, the sea breeze fanning our backs, the decks flat as a well-trimmed headsail, out came the refreshments. And with that the X-442 showed its kinder side.

We glided towards the setting sun, the sails tinged gold, amber fluid in one hand. We fared well in the race considering, but not that racing is what twilight sailing is all about.

PRODUCTION PERFORMER
The X-442 is something of a benchmark for European cruiser-racers. More performance orientated than others, it is built around sound engineering made to withstand trips across the North Sea and down the coast to the Med.

The yacht transposes well to cruising or racing along the Australian coastline, too. Where strength matters, the X-Yacht hull comes to the fore.

River Quays at Mortlake, which takes delivery of the yachts after they're shipped to Australia, says nothing is ever amiss.

Of the seven X-Yachts now in Australia, not one has been out of kilter. This may have something to do with the fact that the keel and rig is dry-fitted to check for tolerances before being demounted for the delivery trip.

The one constant with X-Yachts is the way the hulls are made. A cold-gal dipped H-frame is laid down, around which a Divinycell-cored hull is formed.

The chainplates, keel and mast are fixed to the H-frame, with the hull there to, well, keep the water out. In 20 years of building boats, X-Yachts has found the system infallible.

Having started out in 1979 building Quarter, Half and One Tonners, the company turned its hand to production boats to circumvent the constant rule changes affecting yachting.

It has now put 750 of its one-design X-99 yachts on the water and made 355 of its IMX-38ft one-design yachts. This makes the IMX-38 the most successful 38ft One Design yacht in the world.

All up, X-Yachts makes 400-600 boats per year. Due for release soon is a new IMX-40 to rival the Farrs and Beneteau 40.7s... But back to the hulls.

Each features glassed-in bulkheads, top-quality fittings in line with what you might find on a Swan, recognised deck gear such as Lewmar winches (62s, 50s and 48s for halyards), Frederiksen cars, Whitlock steering and Moonlight hatches, and classic teak-lined interiors.

The stick is keel-stepped and from Sparcraft, and held up by rod rigging. The X-442 had a masthead rig with triple spreaders and a hydraulic backstay.

Flying a symmetrical kite it might do 10-12kt downwind.

All seacocks were bronze, while the rudder was moulded to the stock so if you hit something you shouldn't lose the entire blade. The keel, a fin bulb design, was moulded by X-Yachts in its own foundry.

But sensibly, the wardrobe is local, with sail choices including North Regatta or Fraser D4. A headsail furler is standard, though racy types might prefer to omit it, as they did on our yacht. Lines are predominantly Spectra.

FIRST-RATE FIT OUT
For all this, however, the details can be changed. On the X-442 I sailed on, there were turn-down towrails so you can sit on the rail more comfortably, and Spinlock XX series jammers. The Frederiksen cars come standard, however.

As standard is a German or racing-type mainsheet system, where the mainsheet leads along the boom and back to secondary Lewmar 50 winches near the traveller. This system keeps the cockpit clear and allows a crewman to better tweak the main while racing.

Ensuring the cockpit is kept clear, all control lines and halyards are led below, the anchor winch on the deck is recessed, while the rails are wide and flat for sitting up to windward. The wheel, which exhibited an animate feel, is big enough to see either side of the headsail when working upwind.

As we proved on the racetrack, the X-442 doesn't like to be powered up and put to windward. The rig and hull feel stiff and it appears weight has been kept out of both ends of the boat with no dragging of its transom.

By any standards, mid-nine knots in 16kt of true breeze was pretty impressive. We had the No. 1 heavy up and the yacht didn't feel like rounding up. At 150%, it gave good pointing ability when sheeted on. And the helm, oh the helm, is so pleasant you won't want to give it back.

Still, a lot of power is derived from the 47.2sqm fully-battened mainsail. And with the German sheeting system, our crew of six people could execute the tacks and run through the cockpit without fear of tripping over lines.

Also built into the cockpit are nice deep sail lockers and aft storage bins that run the bottom of the hull. Together, there are plenty of places for fenders, boom covers and gas bottle. Hatches and opening portholes also stand out.

Having unclipped the aft lifelines, the transom offers access to the water down twin teak steps which provide some security in a following sea. For disembarking there were also detachable lifelines at amidships gates.

ROOMS DOWN BELOW
Available in either three or four-cabin versions, the 442 has a classic teak-lined interior using pressed laminates to create smooth, curvaceous edges. There was teak-and-holy flooring, twin white-moulded heads, and sculptured lounges in the saloon.

Available with a choice of fabrics, the four-cabin version I sailed has predominantly classic blue fabric. Lighting was a highlight, with recessed halogens in a white headliner, while headroom and a big companionway, plus lots of handrails, allow easy through- passage from bow to stern.

The layout includes twin aft double cabins, a galley on the starboard side with deep fridge/freezer, gimballed three-burner stove and oven, and deep sink with hot and cold water. Benchtop space is generous, while the drawers run on ball-bearing tracks.

Opposite is an oval dinette with circular lounges, central bottle and drink holder. Forward of here is the spare cabin to starboard with twin bunks. Forward again is the owner's cabin with an opening door to the head to make it an en suite. The dayhead is back on the port side, located nice and close to the companionway.

Together, the yacht can comfortably sleep six for an extended period of time.

With four cabins, however, there are berths for up to eight for weekends away. Certainly, there is the room up top to seat eight people, as evidenced during our twilight sail.

SAILING FOR COFFS
Fitted with a 51hp Yanmar with Saildrive, the X-442 was quite manoeuvrable around the busy surrounds of the yacht club pre and post-race. Onboard power demands were met by an inverter and a separate battery bank fed by a 55amp alternator.

The wiring looms and engineering hidden inside the X-Yacht are a strongpoint. Every yacht which leaves the factory has its wiring layout mapped by computer. If ever there's a problem, drop the Danish factory a line and it will help you sort things out.

But despite its convivial character and commodious interior, the X-Yacht shines brightest when sailing. Encouraged by its performance, the owners of the testboat have their sights set on the Sydney to Coffs Harbour race. Thankfully, the grinding of winches goes a long way.

While Coffs might seem a hike for a beer, at least you'll be tied up at the yacht club wharf well before most other production yachts have returned to home base.