The 50′ Xquisite X5 Catamaran sailed over 4,000 miles
from Cape Town South Africa to the Brazilian coast and catching Mahi Mahi.
Enormous thanks to Craig and Janice for this video tour.
Please visit their channel for more ‘Cruising Off Duty’.
“The X5 is a total success. This “turn-key” catamaran is attractive with its rigorous specifications, fall top of the range equipment and exacting quality. The ease of use by a short-handed crew is undisputable, and the watchkeeper does not need to panic at the prospect of changing a headsail or reefing the main.”
In 2010, the Dean 5000 became a big hit at the La Rochelle boat show. The ups and downs of the South African builder came right for the brand in the end. Phoenix Marine, a major South African manufacturer (in the composites fabrication and shipyard sector) bought the rights to the plans and asked architect Rudolf Jonker to take up the project and design a completely new boat within the existing lines: the Xquisite X5.
The curvaceous style of the boat is fluid and aerodynamic. The forward face is composed of a vertical windshield in two sections which is cleverly designed and offers a great view, and the split between the lateral port lights in the coachroof is innovative and provides a remarkable panoramic view, with great quality of light, thanks to the use of high-strength, tempered laminated and glued glass.
So, no more expansion, sources of leaks or the crazing associated with Plexiglas). Having them inset creates a protection against the harmful effects of UV light. The sleek sailplan shows this to be a robust and quick cruising boat.
The helm station is well integrated into the overall lines, and is protected by a clever convertible bimini. The large archway after seems a little out of place and is easier to accept or when you understand the program. The cutaways for the topside hatches extend the functional style, also making use of high-strength glass.
Text: Philippe Echelle – Photos: Nicolas Claris – Philippe Echelle, Multihulls World
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The usual guard wires have been replaced by a rigid stainless rail, 75 cm (2’5”) high which is much safer than the current recommendations require, and the solid rail can also be used as a step. Access on board is either aft via the sugarscoops, or via a very well-designed pivoting lateral cut-away. The side decks are wide and ringed with handrails on the coachroof. Space is increased by a raised area which is not fitted out, but which houses lockers (watertight with carefully draining hatches) concealing the furling lines. Very flat, with a good non-slip surface and lacking in any trip hazards and line-ends, this design choice illustrates well the philosophy of the boat. It is streamlined with the installation of a proper blue-water anchoring station. A first locker gives access to the 1,500W windlass while a second reveals the chain lead as far as the pivoting bow roller. The general design of these vital elements for anchoring highlights that nothing has been forgotten. The attachment of the indispensable bridle is done here in perfect safety. This neat device also allows the Harken furler for the staysail and the big reacher to be clipped on. It’s also this which takes the strain from the anchor and not the forward beam. Its structure conceals the two furling lines.
The sail-handling station is at the heart of the X5: the two big Harken 60 electrical winches are powerful tools which can be used for everything. The solid frame of the windshield is used to support the removable bimini, which has articulated battens on mini bearing cars – a formidable solution which allows a perfect panoramic view to be maintained for maneuvering, combined with unrivalled all-weather protection.
Other clever ideas include a rain water catchment using the drains incorporated in the coachroof, as well as the 900W solar power station fitted in the roof, whose panel are adjustable in angle. The South African Sparcraft mast with only one set of spreaders has two diamonds stays, and lateral forces held by lower shrouds and capshrouds. The anodizing on the mast, and the way the hardware is secured to it such as some parts being welded, all indicate a remarkable build quality.
The majority of catamarans these days have a cockpit which serves as additional living space, a kind of multi-purpose balcony with many different uses forced upon it. The X5’s response to this a traditional one (bench seating around a large table, spacious lounger opposite and an adjustable bench seat aft), but this whole area can be quickly enclosed. In fact, the cloth screens are permanently fixed in the recesses in the arch, and it only takes a few seconds to set them in place! The bimini roof has a nice headlining and is well lit with LEDs, and this creates a great atmosphere in this outdoor saloon. A wet kitchen and a refrigerator perfectly complete the setup – you can heat things up (or cool them down) as necessary!
The galley is brilliant: set in an L-shape to port around a central island, it is a superb, well-finished installation, with some neat little touches. The lounger in the saloon is really comfortable, and is alongside the nav station, which is the nerve center of the boat, with everything accessed via an iPad on a stand. The quality of the woodwork is remarkable, as is the choice of domestic equipment and materials. Everything is a well-built, solid and entirely suitable for marine use. The limewashed oak trim comes from the well-known Dutch supplier Leewenburgh and is used over sandwich construction.
There is excellent light in the hulls, which have a pretty finish and plenty of storage. The utility room in the starboard hull is really designed for long-term used and the bathroom is quite simply perfect, with refined detail, comfort and quality. The two guest cabins to port offer are equally neat facilities, with really well-designed bathrooms. All the plumbing and cabling is run in separate galleries beneath the floor, and not in the bilges.
The cabling is fire resistant and the whole installation is insulated. All the sockets are US and European compatible, with the voltage being programmable. The whole of the Mastervolt charging and inverter system is run by an easyview controller, accessed along with the rest of the technical systems aboard, using the tablet supplied.
Access to all the main information about the boat is instantly available and can be saved at any moment by the yard’s design team for diagnostic purposes. The screen also displays reminders for maintenance.
The amount of torque available from the 80hp Yanmars is very comforting, with three-bladed Maxprops really biting the water, giving great directional control for maneuvering on the dock at low revs. With no experience of handling the boat astern, I had no problem getting into our slip with 18 knots of wind on the beam. On the day of our test we enjoyed good winds, starting with 5 knots from the NE picking up to 18 knots from the NW for the majority of the day over a run of 32 miles. Once clear of the dock, I hoisted the mainsail from the helm station using the electrical winch.
Being totally unfamiliar with the boat, I asked Tamas Hamor to stay close by and keep an eye on me to make sure I didn’t foul anything up. 30 seconds of explanation was all that was required to have a good understanding of the deck layout which is exceptionally well-designed and built. Everything is led back to the cockpit through three tunnels, whose outlets have sacrificial polished stainless anti-chafe sections carefully installed. The 14 Spinlock clutches are generously-sized and are all ergonomically within reach.
Everything is clearly laid out, and each line (colors and characteristics carefully selected depending on their job) is identified on an engraved plate at the deck organizers. With of the cover stowed in 3 seconds, I had a perfect view as the main went up between the lazy jacks. Once it was set, I bore away and cut the motors. After a slight adjustment to the mainsheet car and a little bit in on the mainsheet, I unfurled the reacher. I checked the color of the line at the furler, released the clutch of the lazy sheet and pulled. Straight away had the feeling that I knew the boat and would be able to react immediately and make any adjustments with ease and dexterity.
The quality of the development of this hull number one is absolutely remarkable. The wind was backing, but then quickly settled in the NW and was picking up. With this amount of sail area (183m² – 1,970sq ft), the boat starts to move in just four knots of wind. The quality of the North membrane sails, combined with a faultless deck layout, made for a nice surprise at the start of our test. A good breeze was now blowing across the water, leading us to another exercise: I rolled up the reacher in a jiffy by bearing away and giving a bit of a lee from the main, easing the sheet with one hand and operating the furler with my foot. Fantastic doing this on your own compared to a gennaker!
The self-tacking staysail was quickly unfurled and once set for a close reach, I turned my attention to reducing the mainsail. With the traveler out and the sheet eased, the sail is empty, but it doesn’t flog. Thanks to the engravings for the lines, there is no confusion and I don’t need to ask Tamas a thing: ease the halyard, hook on the strap at the mast and re-tension, making a visual check (thanks to the hatch in the cover) that nothing has caught, and we’re off again! This magic deck layout gives me great confidence and I imagine it would be the same for any sailor. The feel of the helm is good for a hydraulic linkage, and checking the mechanical parts (welded stainless connections and rudder stock) inspired respect.
The X5 is agile for such a well-equipped model, it tacks perfectly, accelerates through a bit of a chop and knows how to keep up good average speeds between 8.5 and 10.5 (our maximum speed on the day) in 15-18 knots true. In the conditions we encountered I found it to be a very stable platform with a gentle passage through the water.
Text: Philippe Echelle – Photos: Nicolas Claris – Philippe Echelle, Multihulls World
Watch the in-depth Italian video review of Xquisite X5 Sail shot at the Miami International Boat Show 2018 with the kind comments of Antonio Vettese
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Xquisite X5 Sail, visto al Miami International Boat Show 2018 [ITA] XQUISITE X5 SAIL – Presentazione – The Boat Show di Antonio Vettese
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SABBEX was at the right place and time in June for a
guided tour of the
Xquisite X5 courtesy of the design and production team.
and listen to what Xquisite Yachts chief executive Tamas Hamor had to say about ‘their baby’.
X5 is the latest hull from Phoenix Marine’s Atlantis facility which expects to increase production in the next financial year.
We had long been admiring the technical specifications of the Xquisite X5 and finally got our chance at the conclusion of the Miami boat show to take a test sail. Although the weather conditions were not ideal to show off just how well she can perform, they were adequate to put her through her paces. In light air and a moderate swell, we headed out Fishermen’s Channel and exited Miami’s Government Cut to meet the edge of the Gulfstream, which was close to shore just licking the first set of sea buoys offshore.
Hoisting the large composite fully battened mainsail was easy with the power main halyard winch. Then, it was a simple pull on the sheet of the self tacking jib and we were off sail- ing on port tack close hauled, she came through the wind with a turn of the helm and reached six knots in the blink of the eye. We decided to bear away and unfurl the reacher, which kept her moving at wind
In the many decades of our sailing careers we have found that if a yacht can move in the lightest of air, she will really impress you in a stiff breeze. The Xquisite X5 did just that, she performed flawlessly in the light air and rolling swell with the comfortable motion we had hoped for.
By Jeanne Levine and Jeff Grossman, Multihulls Quarterly
The mainsail made by North Sails is a high-tech quality performance oriented laminate. The fully battened mainsail has three reef points and is mounted via a batten car system that allows for the smooth raising and lowering of the large sail.
The customized stack pack and lazy jack system practically flakes itself. Both the self-tacking, furling jib with foam luff and the reacher are also made of laminated fabric and are mounted on roller furlers, with all of the running rigging made of high tech Dyneema.
Her single spreader fractional rig is made of anodized silver-grey aluminum and has a slight rake that distinguishes her from the others. Her sleek stylish looks catch your eye unlike any other catamaran on the market today.
If you could envision the Xquisite X5 catamaran as a high quality customized automobile she would be the Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet.
Completing the deck walk, we took a look into the engine compartments accessed from hatches on the aft deck that provides excellent access to all serviceable maintenance items.
The engines are mounted on a specially molded bed; the wet exhaust system including the water trap, gooseneck and anti-siphon loop can be easily inspected along with the Racor fuel filters. There is a fuel transfer pump that allows you to transfer fuel from one tank to another. Each engine is equipped with a 120 amp alternator to provide optimal charging capabilities.
We were pleasantly surprised to find her equipped with twin 80-horsepower engines. The twin 80 HP Yanmar 4JH80CR engines give you plenty of horsepower to push the weight and windage of the vessel against the wind as well as agility when docking and maneuvering in tight quarters.
On the port side of the saloon is the forward-facing navigation station with an L-shaped desk. The large countertop provides plenty of room for paper charts and there are drawers and cupboards for stowage. The custom designed switchboard, has a digital battery monitoring system, equipment mimic and placement area for optional navigation instruments.
Standard on every X5 is a unique C-Zone digital switching system that includes an iPad as the controller. Also loaded on the iPad are all the user manuals, serial numbers, warranties and the scheduled maintenance program. A Garmin GM120 multifunction display is located at the helm, along with a GPSMAP 8212 chartplotter with remote keypad, Garmin 4Kw radar and Garmin autopilot. The Garmin 200i VHF radio is mounted at the navigation station with a remote mic at the helm. Completing the entertainment electronics is the 32-inch 3D LED smart television with built in media 700i series music system.
Enter the cabin through a recessed sliding door. The grating in the cockpit floor at the door and a protective cowling under the bridgedeck prevent water from getting inside. You are immediately taken with the panoramic views from the main saloon. Also standard are pleated blinds for the entire saloon and the hull cabin windows for privacy. The headliner houses the recessed LED lighting throughout the vessel operated by light switches conveniently located. The U-shaped settee is to starboard with cloth upholstery and wraps around a fixed saloon table with storage compartments under both the seating and table. Three large opening deck hatches and a sliding window to the cockpit provide excellent ventilation.
The galley is to port, designed with the gourmet cook in mind. The counter space follows an L-shape facing aft towards the cockpit for entertaining. Along with the security and convenience of an island counter that conceals a vast amount of storage. She’s equipped with both a 12-volt compressor driven, front-loading door fridge and a two-drawer deep freezer with icemaker. Also, not typical is the four-burner gas stove and oven with grill and extraction hood for ventilation.
The entire starboard hull is the owner’s cabin with the king size berth aft. As you go forward there is an extra large wardrobe with shelves and drawers for storage almost the equivalent of a walk-in closet. Additional amenities that come standard include: a 52,000 BTU air conditioner, washer-drier, a 200 amp battery charger, 2.5kw inverter and a 12Kw generator that allows full sys- tems operation at anchor.
The guest cabins are in the port hull and accessed from the saloon via a companionway with nice wide steps for good footing. Each cabin has an island style queen berth with steps up either side of the bed and proper mattresses for a good night’s sleep. Storage is provided by drawers underneath the berths, recessed bookshelf, cabinets and wardrobe for clothing. Over- head are opening deck hatches for ventilation. The ensuite heads have an acrylic section tinted with smart glass as enclosure.
The hulls and deck are a composite sandwich made up of E Glass and Multiaxial glass with Divinycell com- posite foam infused with epoxy. The bulkhead thickness is 24 mm and there are dedicated collision bulkheads at the bow and transom to protect the engines and the bottom section of each keel. High-density materials are used along with stainless steel backing plates under all the deck fittings.
Designer Rudolf Jonker rounds out her blue water construction features with large tankage. She carries 204 US gallons of fuel, along with 227 US gallons of water with a light ship displacement of 39,680 pounds. This gives the Xquisite X5 the ability to carry more personal gear aboard and provides an excellent motion at sea.
The Xquisite X5 catamaran truly has it all; for a couple with the dream of bluewater sailing, this cat will take you anywhere in the world in luxury and comfort.
By Jeanne Levine and Jeff Grossman, Multihulls Quarterly
“That Xquisite sure sailed beautifully… I mean beautifully.”
“It’s just really, really impressive the number of sea going details built into this boat”
The Xquisite X5 is designed, built and equipped to take you anywhere you might care to go.
A solent rig with a self-trending staysail and a big genoa provides lots of sail-plan options. The cockpit arch anchors the mainsheet traveler and also is home to a killer shower.
Let’s begin by saying the X5 catamaran from Xquisite Yachts, with its soaring cockpit arch, sweeping curves in the cabin top and array of windows, is at first glance, well, distinctive.
But after spending an hour or so digging through the South African-built bluewater cruiser while it was tied to the dock at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, and another sailing it in a decent breeze on Chesapeake Bay, our team of Boat of the Year judges came up with a better description of the X5: Most Innovative.
Click here to read the full article
Charles Doane – wavetrain.net
I knew this would be an amusing show when I quickly deduced that this unlikely looking vessel, the new Exquisite X5 catamaran from South Africa, would likely prove one of the more interesting vessels on site. Yes, yes. I know what you’re thinking.
I have sometimes complained, in a condescending tone, of how many modern powerboats are designed to look like running shoes, and here we have a sailboat that clearly falls into that same category. But really, I swear, this is a very cool boat.
For one thing, the X5 has a very long standard-equipment list that includes such pricey kit as a genset, air conditioning, a watermaker, a washer/drier, electric winches, and so forth, yet itself has a very reasonable price of just $1.2M. Which isn’t chump change to be sure, but it does compare favorably to prices for other deluxe cruising cats of this size and type.
Even better, if you found the boat at the show (it was hard to miss), you got to meet Tamas and Sara, the young Hungarian couple who are promoting this new brand. Tamas, I swear, has the best how-I-became-a-boatbuilder story I have ever heard, which starts, improbably, with him borrowing five euros off Sara when they first met.
Picture 1 – That’s Sara beside a show-goer who is unwittingly standing beneath the outdoor shower head that is built into the X5’s swoopy targa arch
Picture 2 – Up on the coachroof you’ll find this massive 900-watt solar array (comes standard, of course) with the hard glass panels neatly installed in recessed mounts. They also can be canted toward the sun when necessary
Picture 3 – Down below you’ll find oodles of storage space, as seen in this massive telescoping drawer-within-a-drawer assembly found in the galley
Picture 4 – That bimini over the helm station just in front of the targa arch is, believe it or not, the best-designed helm bimini I’ve ever seen on a cat. It’s got a hard windshield, a bulletproof frame, and the fully battened canvas top can be pushed quickly out of the way when you want to commune with the sky above
Picture 5 – Finish quality is to a reasonably high standard, as you can see here in the master stateroom (it took up the whole starboard hull in the boat at the show and includes a large dressing area and a huge head and shower). Those portlights that seem a bit goofy on the outside seem fabulous on the inside, as they let in scads of light. And though this looks like heavy furniture, it actually isn’t, as everything is foam-cored to reduce weight
Picture 6 – The boat also comes standard with this cool iPad brain. It controls and monitors most systems and also the distributed power network, which Nigel Calder in my presence described as the best such installation he’d ever seen. The iPad also gathers maintenance and operating data for all onboard systems and shares this with the builder every time it is connected to the Internet
Of course, there were lots of other boats at the show, with many interesting features. Lots of characters and random madness as well.
Right now I’m just finishing up test-sailing boats after the show. I’ll share a few highlights as soon as I can.
Charles Doane – wavetrain.net
In 2010, the Dean 5000 became a big hit at the La Rochelle boat show, but then the actual launch of this model got bogged down with the various problems at the yard which eventually led to its demise.
Phoenix Marine, a major South African manufacturer (in the composites fabrication and shipyard sector) bought the rights to the plans and asked architect Rudolf Jonker to take up the project and design a completely new boat within the existing lines: the Xquisite X5. We were able to get a first look and try her out in some great weather conditions.
Tamas Hamor, the commercial director and developer for the X5, is a professional skipper: a seasoned and a well-experienced sailor, he is passionate about the techniques and the development of boats. Owner of a Dean 5000 which he has had in charter for several years, he has put a lot into the specs and quality control meaning that a top-quality multihull goes on the market.
The quality of build and of equipment used reduces any potential problems and makes resolving them easier thanks to closely-monitored technical maintenance. As a day-to-day user (short-handed, with his wife) of a big catamaran, he is easily able to envisage things from the point of view of a future owner. The approach is original and genuine, the result convincing.
Rudolf Jonker was formerly a naval architect at Dean Catamarans. He has his own design team at Phoenix Marine and has redesigned a large part of the original boat.
Multihulls World magazine has published
a full 6 page test of X5 in their latest issue (MW #150; from page 90)
