The judging panel described all three boats in the over-48-foot class as performance cruisers—a label the X4⁹ wears with conviction. What separated it from the larger X-Yachts Xp 55 in the same family wasn’t simply size, but temperament: the judges found the smaller boat considerably more enjoyable to sail.
Design and Construction
The X4⁹ is a 49.48-foot monohull with a 43.47-foot waterline, a 14.73-foot beam, and a 7.87-foot bulb-keel draft. It displaces 28,440 pounds and carries 12,015 pounds of lead-and-iron ballast, giving it a ballast-displacement ratio of 42.25 percent—firmly within performance-cruiser territory.
X-Yachts standardized foam-core sandwich hulls in 1979, and the X4⁹ continues that approach with a fiberglass foam-core hull and deck. Its comfort ratio of 27.01 and capsize screening value of 1.93 place it among capable, offshore-minded cruisers rather than stripped-out racers. At the same time, a sail-area-to-displacement figure of 22.23 and 1,294.9 square feet of sail make its performance intentions clear.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
Cruising World’s test sailors considered the X4⁹ the best-sailing boat in that year’s field, and the figures behind the praise came from remarkably light conditions. In a true wind of only 5.2 knots, the boat made 5.7 to 6 knots. When steered above 90 degrees apparent in those conditions, it exceeded the true wind speed.
The helm was so well balanced that one tester called it “scary,” while the sense of exhilaration aboard set the X4⁹ apart from the other entrants.
Under power, the 57-horsepower diesel delivered a fast cruising speed of more than 8 knots. Noise remained below 70 decibels. One tester took that quiet running as evidence of the boat’s build quality: no vibrating doors or rattling stovetops disturbed the interior.
Accommodations and Cruising Capacity
The X4⁹ carries 79 gallons of diesel and 82 gallons of water, enough to support extended cruising without giving it the tankage of a pure passage-maker. Its three-cabin owner layouts and ex-charter heritage point to an interior intended for both private and fleet use, although the sources don’t specify berth counts or cabin trim.
What the sources do make clear is that the judges saw sailing enjoyment—not cabin square footage—as the principal reason owners would choose the X4⁹.
The Verdict
The X4⁹ is a Jeppesen-designed performance cruiser that performs beyond what its length might suggest in light air and handles like a much smaller boat. Cruising World’s unanimous 2019 award and the accompanying test results make a consistent case: a 49-footer that sailed faster than the true wind in five knots and remain hushed under power is unusual.
Its disadvantages are few and largely inherent to the type. The bulb keel and 7.87-foot draft restrict access to shallow anchorages and some cruising grounds.
Pros
- Exhilarating light-air performance, exceeding true wind speed above 90 degrees apparent
- Exceptionally well-balanced helm
- Cruising World’s pick as the best-sailing boat in its field that year
- Quiet running under power, at below 70 decibels, with no rattling interior fittings
- Strong ballast ratio and capsize screening value for a 49-foot performance cruiser
Cons
- 7.87-foot draft limits shallow-water anchoring and access to some cruising grounds
