GBR 448 was built at the Kolding yard in 1963 for Henning Jensen. He called her Esquire III and was issued with the Danish sail number 172. In her he won the 1865 Gold Cup. By 1974 she was in the UK and that year won the Edinburgh Cup with Gilmour Manuel of the Forth Fleet at the helm. She then had stints at Burnham and Abersoch before moving to the West Country, from where current owner Marianne Krex bought her a couple of years ago.

Taka II underwent a refit last year and has been out racing during the current season. I caught up with her during the Cowes Classic Week to have a look over her. She certainly looks most attractive and has proved a competitive boat to race.