At the 2019 Southampton Boat Show, we saw the X4.0 for the first time and decided it was time to down-size from our Xc 45, Perseverance, which had served us very well for the last 11 years. We put her on the market with X-Yachts GB and on 1st November placed our order for for X4.0 # 18

We sold our Xc 45 in February and took delivery of our new boat in early July at Hamble Point. After sail trials at Lymington, Aafke and I set sail for Plymouth, our home port and enjoyed the most perfect sail via Studland Bay and Dartmouth.

We were immediately impressed with the sailing performance; very stiff, close-winded and fast, with a pleasant motion in waves and a pure joy to helm. We had opted for the standard self-tacking jib over the 106% genoa and are more than happy with our choice. It is so easy to handle and the moment the breeze drops below 6 or 7 knots, we deploy the code 0 on it’s top-down furler and we are away! I have never owned a boat that is such fun to sail.

We were also much impressed with the clean deck layout and spacious cockpit which is very easy to move around in. We went for the large bathing platform which gives better security when small children are aboard, (we have 5 small grand-daughters) and is ideal for boarding the dinghy, (especially for the dog!) The fore-deck also works well and the enormous sail-locker easily swallows up the Code 0 and two very large fenders, and we are already converted to the Flexiteek decks – good grip wet or dry and always smart.

Going below, we are surprised at how spacious she is, with a large saloon, a better gallery than the Xc 45, an ingenious heads with separate shower, and two good cabins, the owner’s with a centre-line double. The Nordic Oak finish and the numerous hull Windows and sky-lights gives the interior a light feel, more modern than previous models. We opted for the larger 40hp engine and a three-bladed Flexifold prop which gives serious performance under power.

So to sum up, the X4.0 is an outstanding sailing yacht with real “race-boat” performance, and yet she does not lack creature-comforts. Both above and below decks, she oozes quality of design, materials and craftsmanship and in my view is clearly the class leader in her size.

John Oldridge
X4.0 #18

”Perseverance“