65th Three Rivers Race at Horning Sailing Club - Preview
by Holly Hancock 28 May 08:11 PDT
30-31 May 2026
64th Yachtmaster Three Rivers Race © Holly Hancock
Excitement is building for the 65th Three Rivers Race, sponsored by Yachtmaster Insurance and Panks, which is due to start from Horning Sailing Club this weekend 30-31st May 2026.
Attracting some 128 entrants, this is the second highest number, surpassed only by the 50th Anniversary event. Crowds will gather in Horning from early Saturday morning in preparation for the first start at 11am. Boats will then leave in fleets over 17 starts to make their way around the course, which will take competitors some 50 miles across the Broads, navigating their way through the rivers Bure, Ant and Thurne, and under three bridges (two at Potter Heigham and one at Acle) in the ultimate test of seamanship.
Once started, it is up to competitors to choose the order to tackle the three rivers on the course to suit their craft dependent upon wind and tide conditions.
This year there is a particularly strong fleet of Wayfarers, with 20 taking part, travelling from near and far, including Hampshire, Linlithglow near Edinburgh, London, Essex, Hertfordshire and Blakeney, as well as many more from local clubs. There will also be eleven of the traditional Broads Yare & Bures competing, including last year's winner Chris Bunn sailing Fox, who will be aiming for a hat trick of three consecutive wins, and seeking to add to his record-breaking eight race wins.
Amongst the nine strong Yeoman fleet, another boat to watch is previous winner Roger Hannant in Firefly, having made it to second place in 2025. Also in the starting line-up are seven Norfolk Punts, and three Thames A Raters, making a welcome return to the race with their impressive tall rigs that tower above the rivers on the Broads.
Over 50 of the boats taking part in the Race are River Cruisers, varying from fast cruisers such as Tim Frary's India, which finished in third place overall in 2025, and Richie Dugdale's Zingara which, at over 100 years old, still remains a very competitive boat, to the slower cruisers, which will take the race at a more leisurely pace, including 20 hire cruisers from local businesses on the Broads, whose goal will be to complete the course within the 24-hour time limit.
That is one of the best things about the Race - which is still going strong in its 65th year - for those who are ultra-competitive it provides an opportunity to challenge and push crew and boats to the limits, with impressive shooting of the bridges and well-practised mast raises, whilst for others the Race in itself is the challenge - and making it round is a very worthy achievement. For over a fifth of the fleet, this will be their first Three Rivers Race - for some, the first of many!
One of the most unpredictable factors is the weather. Currently, it looks to be extremely calm, which in itself will provide challenges for competitors. With a forecast dropping breeze, such conditions traditionally favour the lighter, faster boats, but after a few years where no one class has dominated the top ten results, it could be a race where anything could happen. One thing is for sure, it's not over until it's over!
The action begins in Horning this Saturday, 31st May, at 11am, with competitors making their way around the course over the next 24 hours, returning to finish in Horning. For those keen to spectate, popular places are the start at Horning and the Bridges, where plenty of the action takes place. A video of Clive Richardson's traditional Broads Cruiser, Ladybird, skippered by Ben Knight, shooting Potter Heigham Road Bridge amassed over 3.4 million views collectively on social media last year!
If you can't make it in person to see the race, some of the action can be seen via the webcams on Horning Sailing Club's website www.horning-sailing.club.
You can find out more about the Race at www.3rr.uk