Over the winter, Olympic septuagenarians and avid users of Barton Marine's sailing hardware, Stuart and Adrian Jardine have been helping build a new X One Design at Steve Etheridge's yard in Lymington. This traditional South coast One Design class celebrates its centenary in 2011. Of the 196 built, over 145 are still registered and most are regularly racing. It is traditionally the largest class at Cowes Week.
The standard construction uses pine or mahogany planking with connecting ribs and rivets. It is hugely labour intensive and consequently very expensive to build, costing upwards of £50,000 to get on the water. Since so few new boats are being built, a plan was set afoot last year to build an all wooden XOD to class rules but using the latest strip plank West System® epoxy. This would do away with the need for ribs and rivets meaning that the target cost for a new build can be reduced to £30,000. It is hoped that this may spur new interest in a class where second hand boats are few.
‘Xoanon’ is not officially an XOD, but she has been given dispensation to club race and will be seen competing this summer with guest helms at Parkstone, Cowes, Lymington and Itchenor to assess whether the class will vote to adopt this method of construction next year. A 75% vote secures a change to the class rules.
Having seen the boat, we believe this to be a positive move for the class and a far better alternative to GRP. The wooden hull and wooden spars give the design great character and we believe this is retained with the new construction. To find out more about the XOD class and the host of activities and racing to be enjoyed, visit www.xonedesign.org.uk
Our photographs show the new build X One Design prototype being launched and named in Lymington this month by a trio of Olympic medallists to include Pippa Wilson – Gold medallist, Nick Rogers – Silver medallist and Adrian Jardine – Bronze medallist. ‘Xoanon’ features our newly developed XOD size 1 traveller and track system and a host of Barton fittings, chosen for their durability and good looks! Go to Barton marine Products for more details on our traveller systems.
