X-Yachts Team Dominates at the German ORC Championship in Kiel

XR 41 claims a full podium, proving its strength across a wide range of conditions.

Haderslev, Denmark — June 26, 2025 — Challenging weather conditions swept across Northern Europe earlier this week, and their impact was felt during the opening days of Kiel Week — one of the world’s largest sailing events — where keelboats finally took to the water despite tricky forecasts.

 

In the big boat ORC Class A/B, the spotlight was firmly on Formula X, X-Yachts’ own racing team, who delivered a commanding performance in demanding conditions. With Jesper Radich calling tactics and Jeppe Borch at the helm, the team left no doubt as to who was in control.

 

A Championship Decided in Two Races

Only one race was completed on Monday and another on Tuesday — but it was more than enough to crown the overall winner and determine the International German Championship (IDM) Inshore. Formula X took a dominant overall victory, winning four out of six races and placing second in the remaining two. With just six points overall, the team finished well ahead of the competition.

Racing took place over four days, with conditions ranging from light and shifty winds to powerful gusts of up to 38 knots — pushing both boats and crews to their limits.

Despite the challenges, XR 41s dominated the fleet, claiming all three podium spots:

• 🥇 1st: Formula X (DEN) – 6.0 points
• 🥈 2nd: VB IX (ITA) – 15.1 points
• 🥉 3rd: DIXI, skippered by Erik Stannow (DEN) – 17.0 points

This strong showing reinforces the XR 41’s promise as a top contender on the international stage. Most teams had only recently taken delivery of their new boats — some just days before the event — further highlighting the XR 41’s impressive out-of-the-box performance.

“The German Championship was a key milestone in our build-up to the Worlds,” said Radich, after celebrating with champagne on the podium. The Kiel victory marked the team’s fifth consecutive win this spring, a testament to the extensive sailing hours invested in developing and mastering the boat.

 

Momentum Building Across the Fleet

Beyond Formula X, the event showcased rapid progress across the XR 41 fleet. Italy’s VB IX made a significant leap forward to secure second place — an impressive achievement for a newly launched campaign.

Meanwhile, DIXI steadily closed the gap to the front, signaling that the learning curve is steep — but fast. With every race, teams demonstrated greater confidence and performance, underscoring the XR 41’s versatility and competitive potential.

“We’re seeing the XR 41 come into its own — not just through Formula X, but across the fleet,” said Kræn B. Nielsen, CEO of X-Yachts.
“The podium sweep reflects the depth of the design. I’m incredibly proud of all teams, and especially thankful to everyone at X-Yachts and our design partners who brought this vision to life. This is a boat that’s winning — and it’s just the beginning.”

 

More Success for X-Yachts in ORC Class C/D

The success didn’t stop with the XR 41. In ORC Class C/D, Sydbank, an X-35 skippered by Torsten Bastiansen from Flensburg, took first place in a tightly contested series.

They edged out the Swedish Garmin Team Pro4U (First 36.7 MOD), who secured silver, while patent4 (Italia 9.98), helmed by Oliver Voss, rounded out the podium.

 

Looking Ahead

With Kiel in the books, X-Yachts’ focus now shifts to the ORC World Championship in Tallinn this August. Before then, Formula X will compete again at X-Yachts Gold Cup Festival 2025 – presented by Raymarine, held in Denmark, before returning to Kiel for the second half of Kiel Week.