X-Yachts reveals new Xc 47 cruiser
Danish yacht manufacturer X-Yachts has revealed details of its new Xc 47 bluewater cruiser, which is set for launch in early 2024.
“Xc 47 is an elegant high-performance cruiser, built for safe and comfortable sailing on the oceans,” says Thomas Mielec, director of design and engineering at X-Yachts. “Immense focus has been placed on the design to make shorthanded sailing safe and easy.
“Many of our customers share a dream of heading off on a long cruise, often around the world. With this yacht, they will be ready and able to achieve this whenever the opportunity arises.”
The yacht was designed to allow operation even with a small crew. The cockpit layout has been designed to give the helmsman the capability of handling all lines. Four winches – two on each side — are positioned in front of the wheels. All relevant trim lines are led in channels under the deck from the mast to the steering position, with jammers reachable for the helmsman.
The traveller has been re-positioned from the cockpit to a position in front of the sprayhood. Apart from creating an efficient workspace, this cockpit arrangement is said to leave room for a comfortable living space, with the sail handling concentrated to the area at the helm station. Near the transom, a large aft deck accommodates a comfortable full-width seating area behind the wheels, as well as a sunbathing area. The cockpit is deep, well-protected, and with a closed transom.
“We have introduced what we like to call a ‘semi deck saloon’,” says Mielec. “This solution provides a better view of the surroundings, when under deck with more natural light, and an opportunity for multilevel floors.”
The Xc-47 has hidden storage to make sure the yacht is capable of carrying provisions for long periods of time.
The hull lines have maintained the deep V-shaped bow sections and higher stern overhang from previous Xc models. The aft of the Xc 47 has a wider stern section, incorporating a subtle soft chine that is said to provide extra form and stability, improved performance and more space in the aft cabins.
“The design process has been different this time,” Mielec says. “We have built a full-size model, a so-called mockup, that can be heeled up to 20 degrees. As far as I know, we are the only yard that has ever done that. This has given us a unique test platform, with the opportunity to test different design scenarios in real-life situations.
“Being able to move around in a physical environment eliminated numerous lengthy discussions, as everyone could feel and sense right away what the right solution should be. Not only under conditions as they are when the yacht is docked, but also how things work during sailing when the boat is heeled over.”
The Xc 47 is built from a full vacuum-infused epoxy/e-glass sandwich, together with a steel frame. Areas exposed to high loads are reinforced with carbon fibre.
“Danish design and architecture are famous for clean and timeless style, and X-Yachts has always been a part of this tradition,” says X-Yachts CEO Kræn Brinck Nielsen. “When looking at the Xc 47, I’m proud of how far we have come.”
The starting price of the new Xc 47 is €750,000 (excl. VAT).
X-Yachts recently launched its first electric yacht. The X4⁹E is a 49-foot, 12-ton hybrid-powered yacht equipped with two 10kW electric saildrives from Oceanvolt.
