This thoroughly modern racer-cruiser measures 43 feet 6 inches overall, with a 30-foot waterline and 13 feet 4 inches of beam. Displacement is 19,070 pounds, including 8,488 pounds of lead ballast. That gives the XP 44 a ballast-displacement figure of 44.5 percent, reflecting its brief to be both quick and steady.
Design and Construction
The XP 44’s hull and deck are epoxy-infused foam-and-glass sandwiches, with carbon fiber in high-load areas. A carbon-fiber keel grid is bonded to the hull. The 44 was the first X-Yacht to use this grid in place of the galvanized steel ring fitted to other models, a change intended to increase strength and reduce weight. Foam-cored composites in some of the interior furniture save further weight.
X-Yachts fits T-bulb keels to its performance designs. The boat sailed for review carried the deep bulb keel, along with the optional carbon mast and boom. Standard draft is 7 feet 7 inches; the deep keel draws 8 feet 9 inches.
Teak is standard in the cockpit and optional on deck. The companionway hatch can be lowered completely, locked halfway to prevent down flooding, or raised to close the opening.
Rig, Cockpit, and Handling
An aluminum mast and boom come as standard. The optional carbon rig is taller and lighter, and it was fitted to the boat sailed for review. That boat carried a full-batten mainsail and a 106 percent jib on a below-deck Profurl furler. Access to the furler in case of a jam was excellent.
The split, German-style mainsheet is double-ended and leads beneath the side decks to the winches. Its traveler controls are embedded in the sole, helping to keep the cockpit clear. Jib sheets run close to the cabin house. An asymmetrical sail can be set on the optional carbon bowsprit and anchor roller.
Twin wheels aft suit a cockpit designed for performance sailing. The sail drive sits far enough ahead of the high-aspect spade rudder to provide steady water flow without cavitation.
Period reviews reported that the XP 44 sailed very close to the wind and handled gusting breeze and steep chop very well. In 10 knots, GPS speeds reached the mid 7s close-hauled. Under power, top speed was just over eight knots, with a cruising speed of 6.5 knots at 2400 rpm.
Writing in Cruising World, one judge described the XP 44 as “sailing beautifully, steering beautifully”, with everything executed very, very well. Through a week of sea trials, the boat set a high bar for the fleet.
Accommodations
The three-cabin interior has two aft quarter cabins and a roomier owner’s stateroom forward. The forward cabin contains a large double V-berth and its own head. Both aft cabins have good double berths, which can be divided with lee cloths for offshore use. Pipe berths above the bunks allow off-watch crew to sleep to windward, and the aft cabins also have vented hanging lockers.
White fiberglass panels and light upholstery contrast with teak trim. In the saloon, an L-shaped galley to port includes a three-burner stove and oven, a deep fridge, and twin sinks. A second head and shower are to starboard of the companionway.
The dinette table can be removed for racing without compromising comfortable cruising. To starboard, the chart table rides on an innovative slide, allowing it to face forward or move aft to enlarge the berth. The settee doubles as a sea berth, while the long starboard settee can be divided by a cocktail table or converted into the navigation station.
Deck and Equipment
The cockpit table is easy to mount and remove, and it stows beneath the sole while racing. A large table with leaves also lives in a compartment under the cockpit sole for use in port. The squared-off stern can be fitted with an optional folding swim platform.
On the foredeck, the genoa furler sits just below deck level to maximize luff length. The anchor rides on a bow roller beneath the short bowsprit, while the windlass is concealed inside the anchor locker.
The side decks are wide and uncluttered, with outboard chainplates and genoa tracks alongside the cabin. Control lines, halyards, and the mainsheet run aft through under-deck conduits. The cabin-side ports open outward.
Verdict
The XP 44 combines serious performance with genuine cruising substance. Its light, stiff epoxy-and-carbon structure and clean, under-deck line routing suit hard sailing, while the adaptable three-cabin interior shifts readily between racing and comfortable cruising. It rewards an owner who wants to sail hard and live well.
Pros
- Epoxy-infused sandwich construction and a carbon keel grid reduce weight and add strength
- Under-deck control lines and removable tables support its dual-purpose cockpit
- Three-cabin layout includes sea-berth conversions and a sliding navigation station
- Sail-drive placement ahead of the spade rudder avoids cavitation
Cons
- Deep draft—7 feet 7 inches standard or 8 feet 9 inches with the deep keel—limits anchorage choice
- The performance-oriented rig and keel demand an experienced hand in steep chop
