X-35 One Design Launch and Test

On Friday 21 October X-Yachts took the X-35 out for her first test sail. Motoring out of Haderslev Fjord, the X-35 easily maintained a cruising speed of 7 knots. Reaching the open waters outside Haderslev, the sails were hoisted in a 10 to 12 knots southwesterly breeze. On board were Lars Jeppesen (Director and Owner), Niels Ditmar, Thomas Mielec and Martin Feike (all from X-Yachts Design Group) Dan Pedersen (Quality Control and triple X-99 Champion), Nico Rode (R&D) and later Lars Netterstrøm (X-Yachts’ Managing Director) joined the crew.

The X-35 responded quickly to the breeze and accelerated to around 7 knots speed upwind. The control lines worked well and were easy to adjust. Going through the tacks she found the “groove” easily again despite the choppy conditions (tide against wind) and the moderate breeze.

Dan Pedersen said after the first sail: ”On the helm she was very responsive and the wheel steering felt very direct as intended. She reacts immediately to any corrections given by the helmsman and even the waves you could feel on the helm. This direct feedback will allow the crew to trim and optimize her right away while sailing. I very much look forward to taking her out soon again to further adjust the rig tension and put her through her paces in more detail.”

The breeze died somewhat during the late afternoon (down to 6 to 9 knots), but with a slight reaching angle the X-35 got up to speed and the general feeling on board was, that in stronger winds she would easily get above “normal” hull speed downwind.

Driving the RIB for the photographer, Torsten Bastiansen (Sales Coordinator) commented: “She looks impressive on the water - sporty and light, cutting beautifully through the waves. I very much look forward to having my first go on her, and I am sure the new owners and their crews will have a lot of fun sailing and racing the new X-35.”

Further test sails will take place within the coming weeks and the test crew is eagerly awaiting some stronger winds to get her up surfing.