eX PAT

Frans ordered the 12m yacht two years ago, but due to a few hiccups along the way it wasn’t until November last year that his new baby arrived here in New Zealand. After a bit of Wednesday night racing and a spot of cruising last summer, he is now back out on the water again and starting to race her. In keeping with the X-Yacht naming tradition, she is named eXpatria – also a nod to Frans’ Dutch origins.

Previously the owner of the S&S One Tonner and Young 88 , he is not quite ready to hang up his racing hat in favour of cruising into retirement. He very much wanted a boat which offered racing performance – to which the ‘p’ in Xp refers – as well as creature comforts when it’s time to take