X-Yachts Gold Cup 2005
Arendal, Norway 3 to 6 August

Overall X-Yachts Gold Cup Winner

Henrik Jørgensen from Denmark was this year’s undisputed Overall X-Yachts Gold Cup winner in his X-362 Sport “Xbox”, followed by the X-37 “Bella Marit II” with Lars Grande from Norway at the helm. The Gold Cup was held in Arendal in Norway impressively organized by X-Yachts dealer Otto Backe and the Yacht Club of Arendal. Raymarine as main sponsor supported the event together with more than twenty of X-Yachts well-reputed suppliers.

International Competition

The Gold Cup started with registration on Wednesday 3 August and finished with a great galla dinner on Saturday evening the 6 August. A total of 63 X-Yachts and more than 600 participants had gathered to compete against each other in four classes – Family A, Sport B, Sport C and Sport D. Never since the ½ Ton Cup in 1983 in Norway had the country hosted an international offshore yacht event with so many participating yachts as this year’s X-Yachts Gold Cup.

Sailors from seven nations had come together, among these X-Yachts’ Greek importer George Erthos. The Greek team had taken over the all new X-50 “Okyalos XIV” at the yard in Haderslev and was heading for Norway in order to defend their title as Overall Gold Cup Winner from Italy in 2004 where they sailed an IMX 45. When mentioning the name “Okyalos” many people in the racing business will take note. Two times in a row in 1988 in Italy and 1989 in Greece the X-3/4 Ton Mk 2 “Okyalos won the ¾ Ton Cup with a crew consisting of George Erthos, Henrik Søderlund, Lars Jeppesen, Niels Ditmar og Yannis Costoupoulos. The following year in 1990 the X-1 Ton “Okyalos won the One Ton Cup in Sweden.

In this year’s X-Yachts Gold Cup the Norwegians got serious competition from abroad and already at registration day a tense atmosphere was felt and a lively training activity was carried out in the waters outside Arendal. Yachts, crews and gear was tested and optimized – this was serious business – also to the participants in the Family Class who were allowed to hoist only one headsail per race.

Fine weather conditions

A total of five races were sailed. On Thursday two races were completed, first race took of in 5 to 7 m/sec increasing to 12 to 13 m/sec in the second race with quite strong current and choppy seas. On Friday the yachts met a calm sea with 5 to 6 m/sec in the two w/l races. Saturday was the last racing day and a long distance race was planned, but the lacking wind did not allow this and a w/l course was laid out instead.

Family A Class

Birger Hansen from the yard in Haderslev became winner of the Family Class in his X-46 ”XXXXXL”. Assisting him on board was his partner Lars Jeppesen and at the helm the international known sailer Sten Kjølhede from Denmark, who had the supplied the yacht’s furling boom. Second came the all new Finnish X-50 “Lady X” owned by Ilkka Rantasalo and third came X-40 “Felix” from Germany with Rochus Teschner.

Sport B Class

Henrik Jørgensen in his X-362 Sport ”X-box” won the Sport B Class with three 1st and two 2nd. Another X-362 Sport “Latx” of Føyen/Clason finished second in intensive competition with Lars Grande’s X-37 “Bella Marit II” coming third.

Sport C Class

The Sport C Class was won by the IMX 40 ”Ocean Warrier” with Norwegian Sverre Valeur at the helm. In his all new X-40 “Sirena” Peter Buhl was runner-up and Swedish Jan and Peter Dahlsten ranked third in their X-382 “Chamsiin”.

Sport D Class

X-Yachts Greek importer, George Erthos, won the Sport D Class on board his X-50 “Okyalos XIV”, but not without intense competition from the X-43 “Xisse” owned by X-Yachts new Managing Director Lars Netterstrøm. He had invited designer Niels Jeppesen and crew on board and together they made a perfect team resulting in a second place. Placed third was Sten Mejdahl Hansen on board his X-412 “Eye2Eye”.

Festivities and Stand Up Comedian

The combination of fantastic surroundings in Arendal and a professionally organized sailing and entertainment programme guaranteed the success of this year’s X-Yachts Gold Cup. The Gold Cup 2005 was characterized by high performance on the race courses and high spirits ashore – a fine cocktail enjoyed by the 600 participants to the full.

Thank you to Arendal

After Saturday’s race the X-Yachts Armada returned to the port of Arendal with full sail wardrobe and spinnakers hoisted – a magnificent view – and a thank you to Arendal for the great hospitality.

With Otto Backe from X-Yachts Norway as host, stand-up comedian Steven Fletcher as entertainer, the participants could lean back and enjoy a delicious 3-course meal and prize giving ceremony accompanied by the five-member orchestra.

The eighth X-Yachts Gold Cup had come to an end, but preparations for next year’s Gold Cup are already running at full gear. In 2006 the X-Yachts Armada will set off for La Trinité sur Mer at the west coast of France.

X-Yachts A/S