Three Rivers Race 2026 at Horning Sailing Club

 

3RR 2026 sponsored by Yachtmaster Insurance and Panks

This year's Three Rivers Race was a true test of endurance for all those taking part, with the average length of time spent on the water being over 21 hours for finishers. Hosted by, and started from, Horning Sailing Club on Saturday 30th May, the Race finally began after an hour's delay due to light winds and a strong tide.

The start line was extremely busy - both on and off the water - with thousands of spectators making their way to Horning to watch the 117 starters leave on the now iconic Broads Sailing Challenge, in its 65th edition. Despite large numbers on the water, the starts themselves were relatively uneventful, competitors contending with a shifty breeze and a few bottlenecks though the village.

However, once under way, the breeze picked up to be quite pleasant and good progress was made across the course. The majority opted to complete the Ant and South Walsham legs first, meaning that the return home would be straight to Horning. Given the light winds, the Lower Bure turning buoy was positioned at Stokesby, whilst competitors still made their way across Hickling Broad to the turning buoy positioned by the clubhouse.

In the dying breeze during the evening, and as the river turned to glass-like reflections, many prepared themselves for a long night. Thankfully, there was a full moon, but those fighting the tide found it a challenge to make any progress until the tide turned early in the morning. Only two competitors made it home during the night - Paul Browning helming Thames A Rater "Osprey" (who finished at just after 11pm) and Richard Whitefoot sailing Norfolk Punt "Comet" (who finished at 1.20am).

Both took different routes, Browning opting to complete both legs early, before Hickling and Stokesby, whilst Whitefoot completed the legs at the end of the race - both proving that speed was the key factor to race success. In the end, these results were untouchable and they finished in first and second respectively.

For the rest of the fleet, it was a long, slow night, the boats not making it back to Horning until daybreak when the breeze picked up. The next finisher was Tim Frary's River Cruiser "India" at just after 7am, having taken nearly six hours to make it from Horning Church to the finish line.

In total, there were 56 finishers and, heartbreakingly, seven further boats were timed out of the course, tantalisingly close to the finish line. With the conditions unpredictable, the morning's breeze favoured those further back on the course, who were able to make steady progress on those sailing through the tree-lined banks in Horning.

Third overall was White Wings, a Sailing Cruiser helmed by Simon Bayliss, who had chosen to sail to Stokesby first. Andrew Gallant took fourth in his Yeoman "Aquamarine", following the same course. After Heigham Sound, he spent much of the race locked in a close battle with last year's runner-up, Roger Hannant in Yeoman "Firefly", who was just behind, finishing fifth. In the end, they were separated by just over 30 seconds at the finish line after over 21 hours of racing.

Completing the top ten were Yeoman "White Spirit" helmed by Christopher Davies in sixth, River Cruiser "Amantani" (George Brewis) in seventh, eighth was another Yeoman "Anoih" (James Pettit), ninth was Broads One Design "Dipper" (Nick Heath) and in tenth was River Cruiser Modwena (Mark Cassidy).

The full results and trophy list can be found at horning-sailing.club/page/Results

Trophy list:-

Three Rivers Trophy (overall winner), New Three Rivers Trophy, Bosun's Call A (dinghy 12% or less), Peter Cumming Tankard (non-HSC Member), Stanley Facey Memorial Salver (Fastest Passage overall), Charles Hickling Memorial Trophy (crew average age > 60) - Osprey, Paul Browning

Yachtmaster Insurance Trophy (2nd Overall), Coffee Pot Trophy (Norfolk Punt on handicap) - Comet, Richard Whitefoot

Melody Trophy (River Cruiser on Handicap) - White Wings, Simon Bayliss

Puffin Trophy (Halfdecker on handicap), Ivybank Jug (leading Yeoman) - Aquamarine, Andrew Gallant

Bosuns Call B (dinghy over 12%) - Odie, Jonathan Coles

Night Light Trophy (leading Wayfarer) - Actuurly Urr Wayfarurr, Hamish MacKay

Howes Salver (leading YBOD), Colin Haddow Trophy (HSC crew of a YBOD or Rebel) - Scarce Copper, David Means & Dominic Copping

Mora Cruiser Cup (RCC fastest passage) -India, Tim Frary

Elias Trophy (RCC in opposite group to Melody winner) - Pirate, Willum Johnston

Wildgoose Cup (leading female helm) - Black Magic, Jane Pye

BeWILDerwood Trophy (helm under 25 in halfdecker or dinghy), Navigators Trophy (highest placed when competing in their first 3RR) - White Spirit, Christopher Davies

Trudi Memorial Trophy (first HSC member on handicap) - Firefly, Roger Hannant

Green Ginger Cup (Production Cruiser on handicap) - Papillon, Archie Campbell

Jubilee Cup (leading Rebel) - Rebel Rothay, Peter Brown

Reedling 50th Anniversary Trophy (leading Reedling) - Jaws, Stuart Bailey

Team Trophy - Team Talisker

NBYCO Shield (Hire Cruiser on handicap), Lysander Trophy (last boat to finish, elapsed time at least 20 hours) - Leda - Daniel Willett