The East Region's Unique Races - The Three Rivers Race
Last Saturday, 01 June, hundreds of sailors from across the UK and further afield made their way to Horning Sailing Club, in a small pretty Broadland village, to take part in the internationally renowned Three Rivers Race. Once billed as Europe’s toughest inland sailing race, it provides a unique challenge for the newcomer to the race and the seasoned sailor alike, with each and every one of the 118 entrants hopeful of making it round the course – and the three rivers: the Bure, the Ant and the Thurne - in a test of seamanship.
The brainchild of David Hastings MBE, who came up with the idea in 1961, along with Peter Mallender, Dickie Keogh and Eric Smith, as a new challenge for Horning Sailing Club members, the race is now in its 63rd year and is still going strong, attracting a new generation of sailors participating for the first time. Back in 1961, that very first race saw some 42 boats begin in a brisk breeze, which turned overnight to gale force winds, made all the harder by it being a moonless night.
Whilst competitors in the 2024 race were hoping for somewhat calmer conditions, the race proved to be every bit as exciting and exhilarating as that very first event – with strong gusty winds and challenging sailing for all. However, safety is at the forefront of the race committee’s mind, planning taking the best part of a year, and nowadays guardships are situated throughout the course to keep an eye on activities. In 2014 the race was judged by the Sport & Recreation Alliance to be the third toughest mass-participation event in the UK.
With sixteen starts spanning almost an hour and a half, the boats left Horning Sailing Club from 11am, making their way through the village out onto the more open waters of the Broads, the skippers tactically choosing their own route dependent upon the wind and tide conditions on the day. The course included sailing (in any order) to Ludham Bridge on the River Ant, South Walsham Broad, down the Bure through Acle Bridge to Stokesby or beyond, and through Potter Heigham Bridge to Hickling on the River Thurne. The bridges in particular are always popular with spectators, especially as some competitors choose to “shoot” the bridges – meaning that they leave lowering the mast to the very last second, some even sailing between the old and new bridges at Potter Heigham, much to the excitement of the crowd!
Each year the starting order rotates and first away this year were the thirteen-strong fleet of Wayfarers, a small, popular 15’10” dinghy, followed by a variety of craft from traditional Broads boats to hire boats. It was a Wayfarer dinghy, helmed by John Clementson, that made it home first, in a near record time of just after 7.20pm.
The boats taking part ranged from a Miracle dinghy at 12’8” length to Thames A Raters with their imposing rigs standing at over 45’ tall, and the entries also included over 50 river and production cruisers.
This year, the fleet to watch were the elegant Yare & Bure One Designs; these traditional boats were designed for the Broads, boasting previous winners amongst their ranks – and this year claiming first and second place – first to Chris Bunn sailing Fox, and second James Dugdale sailing Ghost.
Whilst almost every class competing had won the race at least once in its history, it was all to sail for, but the conditions proved to be too much for the lighter boats, such as Norfolk Punts, the race seeing over 40 retirements across all the fleets. Whether competitors were racing for the first time, for charity, to win, or for a personal challenge, it continues to be a unique Broads spectacle which needs to be seen to be believed! You can find out more about the race here https://www.3rr.uk/
For more information about how to get out on the water in the East Region, visit www.rya.org.uk/startboating.