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X-Yachting 2013
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124 x-yachting 2013 b ack in 1984 i, my wife marja, and our newborn son
nanno
spent a holiday sailing on the beautiful waters of denmark where we noticed some good looking yachts with three stripes on the hull,” recalls rob schuttrups. “intrigued, we bought a danish magazine to find out more about them. “it wasn’t until the following winter that we found time to visit the team at x-yachts, where the address on the marstrup mollevej turned out to be a house with a medium-sized shed. we were invited for a coffee around the kitchen table – this was in the days when there was no office! “niels jeppesen showed us around and was talking intensely about his creations, just as if they were his own new babies. on our way back to holland my wife and i decided that the x-102 would be our next boat. we returned to our own
business
(a furniture shop that had doubled in size that same winter) when niels jeppesen called and persuaded me not only to go for the x-102 but also to take up the dutch dealership, saying ‘it would not take up much of your time’! i agreed and then had to break the news to my wife that we had just started another
business
! “march came and so did the x-102, where we exhibited her at the hiswa boat show. it took almost a year to sell our first x in holland, an x-79, but she was quickly followed by two x-402s – which were considered massive yachts in those days. “x-yachts holland established itself over the following years as a strong brand. it took until 2000 for me to finally say goodbye to the furniture
business
and focus solely on x-yachts, together with my wife. we did a lot of racing with several x designs – not without success, winning many races and championships. later we switched to long-distance sailing and i have four atlantic ocean crossings under my belt so far.” rob and marja’s two children,
nanno
and their daughter
nikki
, both virtually grew up onboard x-yachts but their parents also encouraged them to pursue their own interests. so they were pleasantly surprised when
nanno
announced that he wanted to join the
business
after finishing his masters degree in aerospace engineering in 2007. “earlier this year we were all surprised again that
nikki
wished to join the company as well, having studied communications,” adds rob. the second generation of schuttrups now run the dealership, with 30-year-old
nanno
as director and his sister
nikki
(25), in charge of the marketing and administration side of things. they are joined by technician maarten goos, and frequent appearances by rob and marja, who admit that they simply cannot keep away! “now that the
business
is in trustworthy and capable hands we spend more time on our xc 50,” explains rob, who is currently taking his xc to the caribbean. “but we cannot stay away from home for the various boatshows and other social events where we keep meeting our x-yachts friends, as this has become part of all of us. it’s hardly surprising with x flowing through our veins since 1984 and with
nanno
and
nikki
raised on an x!” the second generation “my earliest memories on the water are with an x-102 in the south of france,” says
nikki
. “every holiday we went to our x. when i was a child i always suffered with seasickness. but this was never a hinderance. i love sailing and seeing the world. everyday another harbour and a new adventure. i am very lucky that i have already had the chance to discover so much of the world at my age.” having grown up not only on the boats but around the
business
, both
nanno
and
nikki
realised the dealership was ingrained in them. “i always helped my parents during boatshows and weekends when i was available,” remembers
nikki
. “after studying communications and performing interships in marketing and events i realised that this is where my passion is. “in 2009 my parents and brother decided to organise the x-yachts gold cup. they asked for my help, as i had just come back from spain where i finished my internship at an event company. we had a great regatta weekend with nice weather and a full entertainment “ the dutch x-yachts dealership is a true family affair, we find out a little more about the schuttrups team family ties the dutch base at marina muiderzand, just outside amsterdam. navigating the famous dutch canal systems with another new xc.
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