X-Yachts X-412

It was introduced in 1990, updated in 1994 and 1999 and is still going strong and looking great. In an era when glass fibre boats tend to be superseded on the production line by new models within five or six years, the X-412 has proven exceptional. And after our test sail on a breezy Pittwater, I came away believing that X-412 owners are exceptionally fortunate.

When the Danish boatbuilder X-Yachts introduced the X-412 more than a decade ago, it was the start of a new direction for the company towards performance cruisers. Over time it has developed a range of yachts embodying the same core values: quality in design, construction and fitout, and a commitment to sailing performance, in terms of both speed and comfort at sea.

The X-412 was designed by Niels Jeppersen, one of the three founder/owners of the company, around the time that the International Measurement System was taking over from the International Offshore Rule as the pre-eminent handicap system for ocean racing. The yacht's angled overhangs, full mid-sections and masthead rig with overlapping headsails reflect that era; the skill of the designer lies in the fact that those looks have remained timeless rather than dated, rather like the Nautor Swans. To my eye at least, this is a pretty boat.

Evidently I'm not the only one who thinks so, because X-Yachts says it has produced more than 200 X-412s, with demand increasing rather than decreasing over the years.

During the 1990s the boat acquired some impressive regatta trophies on the European circuit in the hands of skilled crews, and the upgrades have primarily involved modifying the keel and rudder shapes to stay in the hunt.

The boat has full European CE-certification. Construction uses solid GRP around the keel, engine and rudder areas, E-glass/foam core sandwich in the hull and deck and a galvanised steel structural grid to support rig and keel loads. The mast is keel-stepped and the emphasis is on achieving a strong and stiff hull of moderate displacement with the weight concentrated out of the ends where possible for the sake of performance and seakindliness.

But the boat has never been a stripped out ocean greyhound, with a handsome and comfortable interior available in either Classic (two or three cabin) or Modern (three or four cabin) layouts. The teak joinery is of a very high standard and the quality of inclusions both above and below deck contributes to the high overall pricing. That's right, the X-412 is an unashamedly big-ticket item.

THE AUSTRALIAN CONNECTIONM
According to Andrew Parkes of importer North South Yachting, there are now six X-412s in Australia, plus four of the larger X-442s (and an X-482 on its way from Hong Kong).

The yacht featured in this review was delivered to new owners Mike Selby and Elena Wise late last year. Their previous boat was an S&S Defiance 30, which they raced in twilights and cruised. With the new boat, Mike said, "We're thinking about going offshore, cruising and racing. We'd like to do both."

While the X-412 comes with basic sails, hydraulic backstay for the masthead rig, pressurised water supply, gimballed stove and oven, etc, Mike has set his boat up with many extras, including a sophisticated navigation system using MacSea software on a wireless laptop computer, B&G Hydra 2000 instruments, a carbon fibre spinnaker pole and Doyle Fraser sails including D4 Nos 1 and 3 headsails, a panelled cruising Mylar mainsail and roller-furling No 2 genoa, and a 0.9oz masthead spinnaker.

Winches are Harken two-speed self-tailers; the primaries are Harken 53s while the spinnaker sheet winches are 44s, as are the coachhouse winches for halyards control lines and the mainsheet.

We were lucky to get a sail aboard the brand new boat on Sydney's Pittwater in a freshening northeaster, which was probably gusting to 15-17kt.

The X-412 proved to be a lovely boat to steer: powerful, responsive and surefooted. The rack and pinion Whitlock wheel steering system must be a contributing factor, but generally the boat felt well balanced. It's heavy enough to be measured in its response to gusts and seaway, without being flighty or sluggish. With four of us aboard we were able to fly the masthead spinnaker - a rare treat for a boat test - and while I'd imagine the boat could be inclined to roll around like the older style IOR boats in a strong breeze, it remained extremely responsive to the helm and easy to handle during our sail.

The only thing I didn't like was the mainsheet arrangement, which is well out of reach of the steering area. Andrew Parkes said that most owners convert theirs to either a block & tackle or the popular double-ended racing system leading back to winches on the coamings.

The X-412 continues to offer a very attractive package for sailors who like to race but also want the option of comfortable cruising with family and friends — and are prepared to pay for quality.