EFG Bank Mandrake is a pure racing machine. Owned and raced by Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth, and registered in Hong Kong, it is a 51 feet long racing yacht with a displacement of 9.2 tons.

Each Regatta is divided into different classes, with the top racing yachts racing in Division A on handicap. Courtesy of her enormous main sail and spinnakers, EFG Bank Mandrake is one of the largest and most competitive yachts in the fleet in Division A. Well able to sail to her handicap, she is a favourite contender for prizes in all the Regattas she enters.

EFG Bank Mandrake was originally built as an IOR racer in 1989, and raced successfully in the Solent and England for 15 years until an accident ended her IOR career. She was completely rebuilt, fitting a new hull, designed by Mark Mills, a renowned England designer, under the old deck. A new carbon mast was added one year later. She continued with her successes in England and came to Asia in 2002. She competed in the King’s Cup, which she would have won, but for an unlucky wind shift in the last race.

Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth purchased her in June 2004, and over the years upgraded and converted her for CHS optimisation, with a completely redesigned keel, substituting the existing rear bulk with a four metre long torpedo keel on a 750mm wrought iron shaft. Dual backstays were replaced by a single backstay, and a bowsprit fitted, optimising the boat for 5 to 12 knots of wind, the conditions most common in the Asian Circuits in Southeast Asia.

More recent modifications were the adoption of Des MacWilliams designed “deep running” spinnakers, and the installation of a new and lighter engine at the end of 2009.

Although 2½ tons heavier than the modern carbon TP 52’s, she is very competitive up wind, and competitive on all points of sailing in 6-12 knots of wind. Once on the plane in 25+ knots of wind, she has achieved a speed of 28 knots.