3 Rivers Race

[ARW123]

The annual 3 Rivers Race on the Norfolk Broads (info: http://threeriversrace.org.uk/index....ee_Rivers_Race) was delayed this year due to high winds with starts spanning 17:00 - 18:30 on Saturday. With over 100 starters the conditions still took their toll with retirees in the mid teens by 20:00.

The course was drastically shortened (presumably due to the late start) meaning the shooting of Acle bridge was avoided. Shooting Potter Heigham bridges remained though the long run up through to the top of Hickling Broad was also cut; the turn being made at the mouth of Candle Dyke off the river Thurne, nonetheless it still meant an overnight race for many crossing the line around breakast time on Sunday.

The setting sun made for a few interesting shots of the action around the medieval bridge at Potter Heigham:-

[dylan winter]

you used the light brilliantly

very, very good indeed

in my opinion the three rivers is one of the world's must see yachting events

D


three rivers on ktl


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnWHWgAnXGI

[Ian McColgin]

I love the whole striking the rig bit.

[bamamick]

This is one of the most interesting and picaresque sailboat races in the world. I always enjoy seeing the photos.

Mickey Lake

[ARW123]

There are in fact 2 bridges at Potter the one above and a modern replacement of the old rail bridge about 300 yds further upstream.

Quite a few competitors showed some class by raising the mast and sailing between them, lowering again for the 2nd bridge. Not so bad in a dinghy, but takes a bit more thought when in the larger River Cruisers especially the Bermudan rigged ones where the mast can be 50+ ft. My boat has only a 35' mast (being gaff rigged) but even with this, the process is helped with over 175lb of lead counterbalance.

A few more shots here:- http://www.flickr.com/photos/4650494...7630031168935/

[Duncan Gibbs]

Great pictures!

I'd love to see the race one day. Did anyone really "shoot" the bridge this year by sailing up to it and striking the rig at the very last like the boat at the end of this video?

[ARW123]

Did anyone really "shoot" the bridge this year by sailing up to it and striking the rig at the very last

Yep, the last boat in the clip is a Yare & Bure One Design - YBOD (http://www.ybod.org.uk/)

Several, a few YBODs did within 20' of the bridge as this little Norfolk O.D.:-



Tide was ebbing so smaller boats had some difficulty carrying way, bigger ones found it a bit easier.

[bamamick]

Unbelievable!

Mickey Lake

[dylan winter]

these are such great pictures

I keep coming back to look at them


may I use them in a blog on my website?

It would involve downloading them and re-uploading them and I will credit you

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

Great photos.

Going back to the original post, the couple with the gunter lug seem to be having trouble with their mast lacing. Especially important to get it right if you're going to shoot bridges, Potter or any other. Someone should tell them....


Dylan, would you be able to please send me a copy of your short movie of Secret Water that featured my map? I find that it's no longer available on KTL.

Mike

[barnacle_bill]

Hi,

These are some of the most dramatic pics I've seen of the 3RR, and I've seen a lot... We are the cruiser with the yellow burgee visible through the bridge arch - and indeed over the top of it - in the 5th photo. There's too much weight and windage in a cruiser rig to safely drop "all standing", but with a following wind we were able to sail up to the bridge on the jib and drop the mast on the jib halyard rather than the forestay. The jib still got a wash, but the foredeck crew dragged it out and we managed to get the stick back up and sail between the bridges. I didn't know too much about what was going on at this point, as I was running round the boat re-reeving the topsail outhaul which we'd had rigged incorrectly since the start of the race, and this was the first opportunity to sort. Happy days...

[ARW123]

[dylan winter]

these are such brilliant images

I keep on looking at them again and again

well done A

let me just say that again

well done

D

[barnacle_bill]

Thanks ARW, a couple of halyards snagged up there and we've slid a little far to leeward, but it all got sorted and it's less work than paddling!

Lots of other photos, race reports etc. on the local forum here: http://www.the-norfolk-broads.co.uk/...row=61&erow=70