X-Yachts adds another performance cruiser to Barcelona
Denmark's X-Yachts will have the X4³ MkII in the Barcelona International Boat Show's on-water sailing display from October 14 to 18, 2026. The 13.24-metre performance cruiser is a confirmed entry in the organiser's latest boat list, giving buyers an opportunity to inspect the design during a week that brings many of Europe's leading sailing brands together.
The MkII is not a newly announced 2026 world premiere. It was introduced earlier as a substantial revision of the original X4³ and has since become a recognised part of the builder's Pure X performance-cruising range.
Barcelona offers a chance to judge the difference between a yacht designed only for relaxed cruising and one built with more emphasis on trimming, helm response and sailing in challenging weather. The actual boat's inventory, price and keel arrangement should be obtained from its exhibitor before any purchase decision.
A revised transom changes the sailing characteristics
The major MkII design change is the wider stern, with soft chines and additional form stability intended to help the yacht sail efficiently when heeled. X-Yachts explains that the hull can reduce drag and turbulence around the immersed transom compared with its predecessor.
The design uses vacuum-infused epoxy sandwich construction and a substantial lead keel system, part of the builder's long-standing approach to combining stiffness and stability. The published light displacement is about 9,400 kilograms with standard ballast near 3,700 kilograms.
A maximum beam of 3.99 metres creates enough width for comfortable accommodation without changing the fact that this is a monohull requiring a conventional deep-water berth. Standard draft is around 2.20 metres, while shallower and deeper keel options are available for different operating requirements.
These figures describe the model range rather than independently confirmed measurements of the boat attending Barcelona. Owners should verify the keel and sail configuration of the particular hull, as they materially affect both marina access and performance.
Deck handling remains central to the Pure X identity
X-Yachts uses twin steering wheels, six self-tailing winches and a hydraulic backstay arrangement to give a short-handed crew control over the sail plan. Concealed fittings, flush hatches and carefully arranged halyard routes are intended to make it possible to handle routine manoeuvres without crowding the side decks.
The MkII includes a cockpit table designed to be removed and stored, leaving more space available when the boat is used for active sailing. An optional bathing platform provides another arrangement for an owner planning regular time at anchor.
Buyers considering more ambitious races may have different priorities from a couple who primarily cruise with guests. A useful boat-show visit should compare the location of winches, the security of foot braces and the sightline to the headsail when the yacht is heeled.
The saloon and cabins benefit from numerous fixed windows and opening hatches, while interior arrangements can provide two or three double cabins and one or two bathrooms. Every layout choice has consequences for stowage, privacy and the amount of work needed to keep the yacht comfortable offshore.
An established design rather than a speculative launch
The model's published standard auxiliary engine is a 45hp diesel, supported by a 200-litre fuel tank and approximately 340 litres of water storage. As with any yacht designed for sailing performance, real-world endurance depends on weather, speed, loads and the use of shore facilities.
X-Yachts has allowed customers to configure finishes, sail equipment and other details online, and published yacht-specific specifications can vary considerably. A production specification therefore needs to be read alongside the builder's equipment schedule and the history of any previously used hull.
The Barcelona boat list provides the clearest confirmation that an X4³ MkII will be on the water during the October exhibition. No sale or fresh delivery has been announced in that listing, and the boat's history should not be inferred from the model's name.
The photograph accompanying this report shows an actual X4³ MkII cockpit, sourced from imagery presented by an X-Yachts dealer. It illustrates the twin-helm layout of the correct design rather than using a fabricated picture or the unrelated X4.9 MkII.
