There is probably no other boat that manages the balancing act between touring and regatta yacht as well as the X-99. First built in 1985, the boat is exceptionally light, offers four people comfort at youth hostel level and consistently large fields in regattas.
There is no doubt that when developing the X-99, designer and shipyard owner Niels Jeppesen clearly had the regatta sailor in mind. Backstays, narrow and deep appendages, plus a generously dimensioned sail area - the ten metre long yacht is good for high speeds on all courses. Her low weight of 2.9 tonnes is helpful, but also makes for quite rough sea behaviour.
But the X-99 is not only at home on the water, the yacht also cuts a fine figure on cruises. "Most boats these days are sailed by a crew of two, leaving the large genoa behind for holiday cruises," says Christian Soyka, world champion on the X-99.
Find out what else prospective buyers should look out for in the big used boat test, now in the current issue of YACHT.
