The 2026 AEGEAN 600 brought together 71 boats from 21 nations for 605 nautical miles of offshore racing through the Greek islands, starting and finishing beneath the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio.

Conditions proved as varied as the course itself, with the fleet facing a powerful Meltemi reaching 43 knots at the Kasos crossing before encountering almost complete calm around Mykonos. Among the fleet were three X-Yachts XR 41s – HYC Xcalibur, Xiphos and Axioma. The XR41 delivered a strong performance, with two of the three boats finishing on the podium.

HYC Xcalibur (XR 41) – 2nd in ORC Two

Skippered by Darren Wright and representing Howth Yacht Club in Ireland, HYC Xcalibur (XR 41) secured an impressive 2nd place in ORC Two, completing the 605-mile course after almost 95 hours of racing.

The crew faced constantly changing conditions throughout the race, from powerful downwind sailing in the Meltemi to light and unsettled breeze later in the course. At its fastest, the XR 41 reached speeds of 20–22 knots, while remaining responsive and agile as the wind eased.

For the crew, racing aboard the new XR 41 provided a fresh challenge, and the boat made a strong impression.

Former Howth Yacht Club Commodore Brian Turvey described the experience:

“The boat really surprised us in terms of agility, performance, acceleration, and speed.”

He went on to describe the XR 41 as “a fantastic boat to race and sail”, particularly in the challenging conditions of the Aegean.

A double podium for the XR 41

HYC Xcalibur (XR 41) was joined on the podium by Xiphos (XR 41), skippered by Paris Kyriakopoulos, which secured 2nd place in ORC One and 3rd overall in ORC scoring.

Two podium finishes for the XR 41 on its first AEGEAN 600 is a remarkable result, particularly on a course that places such demands on both boat and crew. The race offered almost every type of offshore sailing, from heavy-air conditions around Kasos to the tactical challenges of near-calm waters around Mykonos.

For Fortis Marine, it’s particularly rewarding to see the X-Yachts range being put through its paces in such demanding conditions. As an X-Yachts partner, we are proud to represent a brand with such a strong performance heritage and to support its owners here in the UK and Ireland, from technical expertise and servicing through to helping them get the most from their yachts.

The AEGEAN 600 was a fitting showcase for what the XR 41 can deliver when the conditions become truly challenging.

Congratulations to Darren Wright, the HYC Xcalibur crew, the team aboard Xiphos and everyone involved in this year’s AEGEAN 600.