Niels Jeppesen about the X-40’s participation in the X-Yachts Gold Cup 2004

Just 1_ months prior to this year’s Gold Cup, I talked to X-Yachts Italian importer, Piergiorgio Ravaioni, and realised that the X-40 would not be participating in this year’s event.

Change from cruiser to racer
Hull No 04 was due for delivery to the Italian client Mr. Grimaldi one week prior to the Gold Cup, but the client had no intention of making the yacht competitive or buying a racing sail wardrobe.

I said to Piergiorgio Ravaioni that it would be nice at least to be able to present one “new model” during each year’s Gold Cup, so why not ask for the client’s permission to use his yacht, of course allowing him and his girlfriend on board as a part of the crew.

The crew
The client agreed to let us manage his boat, and a crew was made up by Piergiorgio Ravaioni as tactician, four members of his regular crew, Jens Christensen from North Sails Denmark, who looked after his 3DL mainsail and genoas as well as the spinnakers, I was at the helm and my oldest son, Frederik, adjusting backstay and packing spinnakers.

The yacht was trucked to Southern France just three days before the races. She was rigged in a rush and sailed to Elba to arrive just the day before the event.

Yacht specification
The yacht’s specification included among others cruising oriented extras such as:
Full teak deck, holding tank at forward toilet, heater, 3-bladed  Gori propeller, and the yacht had anchor winch as well as anchor roller fitting mounted at the bow. The standard furling headstay was replaced by a new rod forestay fitted with a plastic head foil for less windage.

Sailing performance
In the first two races, where the wind speed never exceeded 6 knots, we were able to just keep up with the two X-43s, both having carbon masts and 3DL sails.  As well as this we could hang on to the fastest IMX 40, being only beaten by the IMX 45, the X-46 “Jonathan Livingstone”, also sporting a carbon mast, and one or two of the best sailed IMX 40s.

Last days’ racing saw 15 to 18 knots of wind, and under way to the start line the starboard lower intermedia suddenly came off (the turnbuckle had not enough connecting threads, a result of lacking preparation time for tuning the mast!). As a consequence we had to go back to the harbour, easy the entire rig and connect the intermedia again – and finally set the rig up once again. Therefore we did not take part in race three.

Race four - 15 to 18 knots true – using genoa 1 heavy and full main – as only few other yachts did, most yachts were using their genoa 3. On the water it was very much the same picture as for race 1 and 2, just keeping in front of the two X-43s and being beaten by two of the best sailed IMX 40s.
Having sailed the prototype of the X-43, after three month’s testing and preparation, coming second at last year’s Gold Cup, I was very happy and satisfied with this year’s result, coming 2nd in the entire Sport Class, just beaten by X-46 “Jonathan Livingstone”.

Mast and steering to perfection
I felt the X-40 being very competitive in both light and in fresh conditions, extremely forgiving and easy to sail. I was especially impressed with the new mast and rig, designed and manufactured by the Danish, John Mast, spar maker in close cooperation with our design group.
But also the newly developed steering system by Danish, Jefa, worked perfectly and gave a very direct and sensational steering.

Motoring can be a pleasure
Motoring to and back home from the races, I enjoyed the extremely quiet and comfortable engine installation. How far we have gone to install the engines on the new generation of X-Yachts performance cruisers, to obtain as little noise and vibrations as possible, only we, who manages design and development, are aware of – but what a pleasure – and what a difference!

The performance of the X-46 and the X-40 as well as the X-43s are the best proof for me, that these new models, which are such a pleasure to handle for the cruising crew, are the best possible combination of the comfortable and sportive world.
I look very much forward to testing the new X-37 mid June, and the new X-50 mid September.

Niels Jeppesen
Designer

Portoferraio, Elba Island, Italy
26 to 29 May 2004

The seventh X-Yachts Gold Cup 2004 was held in the wonderful surroundings of Portoferraio on Elba Island. The very first X-Yachts Gold Cup event was held in 1998 in Lavagna in Italy, and it was therefore with great expectations and pleasure Piergiorgio Ravaioni from X-Yachts Italy once again could welcome almost fifty X-Yachts on Italian ground – at the very year of X-Yachts’ 25th Anniversary.

Welcome to the 7th X-Yachts Gold Cup
Four hundred expectant participants had come for the opening ceremony in the beautiful harbour “Darsena Medicea” in the medieval town Portoferraio, who had kindly offered the participants free moorings, use of the town facilities together with great hospitality from the inhabitants, shops and restaurants. Most of the participants had come by sea, however, family, friends and crew members had also arrived by car, plane and ferry – among these the three X-Yachts owners Niels Jeppesen, Lars Jeppesen and Birger Hansen.

Presentation of the all new X-40
After the opening ceremony of the X-Yachts Gold Cup 2004, the first Italian X-40, owned by Mr Grimaldi, was introduced. As some of the extras, this yacht is equipped with teak deck, anchor launch system and a sport keel. She arrived exactly to the minute for participating in her first race. Niels Jeppesen as helmsman and Piergiorgio Ravaioni from X-Yachts Italy had joined the owner Mr Grimaldi on board “Idefix” to test her against her bigger sisters the X-43 and X-46 on the race course.

Thursday 27th May
The whole X-Yachts fleet were motoring out of the harbour for the first start. Expectations, however, were not too high as the weather forecast had promised “no wind”, and the sun did not seem to be able to break through the cloud cover. A very unusual situation on Elba, where wind normally is a daily ingredient – but not that day – and at 16.00 hrs the fleet had to return to the harbour where a hot dish of pasta and a cold beer was waiting for them.

Friday 28th May
Winds had freshened somewhat and the yachts succeeded in completing two windward/leeward races that day.

In Family Class A the German X-382 “Thanks” owned by Jan von der Bank and his wife came first in both races. They had arrived on Elba for holiday only a few days earlier and had immediately registered to participate in the Gold Cup.

In Sport Class B (below 11m) the X-362 “Don Alvaro” sailed by F. Siculiana came 1st in race one and the X-332 Sport “Spike Plus” with Del Bene Pasquale came 1st in race two.

In Sport Class C (above 11m) the X-46 “Jonathan Livingston” owned by Giorgio Diana and with Dan Pedersen from X-Yachts Denmark as co-helmsman had a brilliant lead in both races, sharply followed by the new X-40 “Idefix” coming 2nd in both first races.

The IMX Class (IMX 40 + IMX 45) was won by IMX 45 “Okyalos” with George Ertsos from X-Yachts Greece at the helm. Best IMX 40 was “Muzyka” with Cresci Claudio.

The day finished in the party tent with Italian food, music and exchange of seamen’s tips and tales from the past. Many went out on a round of the night life in Portoferraio, others had a drink in the cockpit with a view to the pier where people were strolling by in the moonshine.

Saturday 29th May
Saturday 29th came as a sunny and refreshing day. Finally, the wind had increased and the X-Yachts fleet gained speed and the big yacht owners were relieved – now they could prove what their yachts were built for – fast sailing! Two races were sailed in high wind (above 12 knots) and the result was consequently a total change in positions in some of the classes.

In Family Class A
Preben Jacobsen from Denmark gained speed with his X-Yachts 73 “HI-FI” and achieved a 1st in the third race and a 2nd in the fourth race where he was beaten by the X-43 “PLCX” with Leone Pattofatto at the helm.
In the Sport Class B the X-362 “Don Alvaro” with F. Siculiane continued Friday’s success with two 1st places in the third and fourth race.

The Sport Class C 
The X-46 “Jonathan Livingston” positioning 1st again in both of Saturday’s races. The X-43 “Blue Song” with Sandro Pantaleo won the 3rd race, whereas the X-40 “Idefix” with Niels Jeppesen on board had to return to the harbour as the rig tune was not satisfactory due to the short time available for set up prior to racing. Luckily, Niels’s brother, Lars Jeppesen had signed on the X-40 for the Saturday racing, and with his usual efficiency, the rig was tuned and the X-40 could return to the race course and get to the fourth start in time – a 2nd place was achieved again.
In the IMX Class D the IMX 40 “Muzyka” became winner of the third race and the IMX 45 “Okyalos of the 4th race.

IMX 45 “Okyalos” Overall Winner
Overall winner of the X-Yachts Gold Cup 2004 was IMX 45 “Okyalos” and they could return to Greece with the Gold Cup Trophy.

After Saturday’s racing the X-Yachts’ fleet returned to the marina and the galla dinner of the evening with its 4-course menu, Italian wine and champagne. The prize giving ceremony was carried out by Niels Jeppesen and Piergiorgio Ravaioni – followed by tremendous and overwhelming fireworks – lighting the evening sky and sparkling in competition with the real stars and the moon over the ancient medieval town.

The seventh X-Yachts Gold Cup was coming towards the end, however, the nightlife of Portoferraio called for a few farewell drinks and stories yet to be told before the day break.

Thanks to the many and loyal sponsors of X-Yachts, the Comitato Velici Elbani, the race committee, the jury, the city and citizens of Portoferraio and X-Yachts Italia and many other volunteers, the X-Yachts Gold Cup finished once again as a success.

Norway in 2005
Next year we hope to see many X-Yacht’s owners for the X-Yachts Gold Cup 2005 to be held in Scandinavia – more precisely in Norway.

Annette Dam
X-Yachts of Denmark