X-Yachts and pro sailor Jesper Radich are building a young race team around the new XR 41 that is coming 2025.
20 talented sailors were invited for an intro try-out event in The Royal Danish Yacht Club last week, and first steps are now made for a project implementing talented and hardworking young sailors into an ambitious X-Yachts Racing Team.

 

”I wish this had been an opportunity 30 years ago when I was in the same position as you are now!” – Jesper Radich. 

These were the words from Jesper Radich to 20 young sailors, all aspiring to pursue a career in professional sailing. As a former winner of the World Match Racing Tour, America’s Cup Helmsman, and with multiple international titles, Radich knows what it takes to succeed in professional sailing. The dreams of these young sailors moved one step closer to reality when he – together with X-Yachts – welcomed them to the facilities at the Royal Danish Yard (KDY) in Skovshoved.

Let’s take a step back. A year ago, X-Yachts decided to develop a new, uncompromising racing yacht under the model designation XR 41. The boat is designed in close collaboration with leading experts and will be presented at BOOT in January 2025. Built with X-Yachts’ renowned DNA, this yacht is set to win races. While several teams worldwide have expressed interest in the XR 41, X-Yachts is now also forming its own team – with young sailors.

X-Yachts CEO, Kræn Brinck Nielsen, explains:

”Danish Sailing has a wealth of talent, and we want to give them a unique opportunity. Not just to be part of a winning team, but also to create a platform for their future professional careers. This is important to us as a company, and also because we are personally passionate about the sport of sailing.”

At the event in Skovshoved, the 20 young sailors were divided into three DS Matchracers, competing in short races on windward-leeward courses, with Jesper Radich and Kræn Brinck Nielsen observing from the stern. Following the races, the observations were reviewed, and the young sailors were given the chance to ask questions.

The event in Skovshoved was only the first step in selecting the upcoming XR 41 Racing Team. In close collaboration with X-Yachts, Jesper Radich continues his work to move closer to the final racing team.

”The selection of a strong team is of course not based on a single day’s event. We saw many promising performances in Skovshoved, but more importantly we had the chance to inform the young sailors about our expectations for them to join the team. Now the project has begun, and over the coming months, we will continue working on it,” says Jesper Radich.