Cool Place of the Day: The Three Rivers Race, Norfolk

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Craig Slawson

The Three Rivers Race, Norfolk

Norfolk’s Three Rivers Race takes place on the first Saturday in June, and is the premier race of many that take place on the Norfolk Broads during the summer month. More excitingly, it’s also the Le Mans of UK yachting, a 24-hour test of endurance that starts on Saturday morning and usually doesn’t end until the early hours of Sunday, with by no means all of the competitors making it across the finish line. Hosted by the venerable old sailing club based in the riverside village of Horning, it is quite a sight, and a great reason to make your way to perhaps the Broads’ most picturesque village, particularly when the 120 or so boats line up to begin their adventure in a staggered start that sees vessels of all shapes and sizes leaving every five minutes or so over a couple of hours.

The idea is to complete a course taking in four waypoints situated on the three main rivers of the Northern Broads, the Bure, the Thurne and the diminutive Ant, a course of around 50 miles that you have a maximum of 24-hours to complete. You can round the waymarks in any order you like, a decision that will depend on the wind of course, and also the tides, which can play havoc with your speed even if the wind is in your favour. The race is full of rivalries and sailors aiming to beat their personal bests, but most of all it’s a fantastic spectacle set among the unbeatable scenic surroundings of the Broads National Park: best nab your waterfront viewing spot early.

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