X-Yachts Gold Cup at Royal Danish Yacht Club - Preview
by Nicolai Lassen 12 Jul 2015 08:46 BST
15-18 July 2015
This year will be the 16th version of this flagship biennial event for X-Yachts. It used to be hosted in a different location every year, predominantly around the northern hemisphere but this year it has returned to the country where X-Yachts was born - Denmark.
It will be held at the prestigious Royal Danish Yacht Club. The aim: to bring together X-Yacht owners, crew and friends on a wide variety of models from X-Yachts rich 37 year heritage to share the common X-Yacht spirit found amongst all. We welcome everyone from families with children to fully professional sailors.
This year emphasises not only what a truly global brand X-Yachts is but what an international event the X-Yachts Gold Cup (15 - 18 July 2015) continues to be. This year 12 nationalities will be competing across five classes, coming from many neighbouring countries but also some much further afield including Israel, Australia and Canada.
The official ISAF recognised X-35 World Championship marks the start of the event on Wednesday 15 July where the boats will be taking to Øresund waters for the first of four days of highly competitive racing. There is without doubt some hot competition in this class which includes the two Finnish Audi X-35s: AUDI e-tron and AUDI Ultra skippered by Teemu Kekkonen and Samuli Leisti who are often seen on the international circuits.
The Family, Sports and 50+ Classes will start on Thursday 16 July on a separate course in the same area as the X-35 World Championships. Here you will find a wide variety of X-Yacht models from all eras of X-Yachts prestigious 36-year heritage, including many of the current models. There will be some serious competition to get hands on the elegant prizes donated by Georg Jensen.
Not only will you find a variety of models but some very well respected and knowledgeable sailors from Lars Ive, the Commodore of the Royal Danish Yacht Club and former world champion of the 3/4 Ton (1981 & 82) and One Ton Cups (1986) to Jürgen Klinghardt the former ORCi2 World Champion and skipper of "Patent3" (X-332). There will be particular focus on the three Xp 50s from Norway, Russia and Latvia in the 50+ Class with Dan Pedersen, former X-99 World Champion and one of X-Yachts highest profile sailors helming and Niels Jeppesen's son, Frederik crewing the Norwegian yacht, "NorXL". We also welcome many cruising sailors who enjoy the occasional race including Karsten Witt who has just returned from a trip around the world on his X-55, "GUNVØR XL".
The Gold Cup is not only about racing though. We have social occasions taking place every evening including the Carlsberg Opening Ceremony on Wednesday 15 July and the Gala Prize Giving on Saturday 18 July encouraging X-Yacht sailors of all nationalities and ages to enjoy every moment of this four day event in Denmark.