Sailors braved blustery conditions on the Norfolk Broads this weekend for an endurance race which has been described as 'Europe's toughest'.

A total of 40pc of the boats competing in the Three Rivers Race retired before reaching the finishing line, amid some of the most difficult racing of recent years.

Around 100 boats set off from Horning Sailing Club - which organises the event - on Saturday morning, in a series of staggered starts.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Around 100 boats set sail this yearAround 100 boats set sail this year (Image: Tyler Baker)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Empress, a Star class boat helmed by Nick EastwoodEmpress, a Star class boat helmed by Nick Eastwood (Image: Wilum Johnston)Great Yarmouth Mercury: River cruiser, Zingara, helmed by Richie Dugdale, near Stokesby River cruiser, Zingara, helmed by Richie Dugdale, near Stokesby (Image: Wilum Johnston)

Boats taking part range from small two-man dinghies to some of the largest river cruisers on the waterways.

Crews have 24 hours to complete the race, which involves navigating parts of the Bure, Thurne and Ant over a course of around 50 miles.

The event, which has been running since 1961, involves the boats having to pass below bridges at Acle and Potter Heigham - where high water levels created particular difficulties for many of the larger vessels.

One boat even appeared to become stuck when navigating through Potter bridge, causing quite a stir for the large crowd of onlookers who gather there.

But it was beyond Potter, on Heigham Sound and Hickling Broad that the vessels faced their toughest test, with strong winds whipping up choppy conditions.

There were several capsizes during the course of the event, which has been called "Europe's toughest inland sailing race".

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Great Yarmouth Mercury: Competitors have to navigate under three bridgesCompetitors have to navigate under three bridges (Image: Tyler Baker)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Peacock, with Jack Barnham at the helm, passes Stokesby, with hairy moment for the crewPeacock, with Jack Barnham at the helm, passes Stokesby, with hairy moment for the crew (Image: Wilum Johnston)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Hundreds of sailors took the Norfolk Broads this weekendHundreds of sailors took the Norfolk Broads this weekend (Image: Tyler Baker)

Sixty boats finished the race, with the overall winner Fox, a Yare and Bure class boat helmed by Chris Bunn in a time of 6:54:27.

In second place was Ghost, another Yare and Bure, with James Dugdale at the helm, finishing just two minutes behind.

Fiasco, a Wayfarer helmed by John Clementson came in third.

The full results of the race and the winners from each category can be found on the Three Rivers Race website, www.3rr.uk.