This paper describes the development of a high‐fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a three‐blade horizontal axis current turbine. The CFD model was developed using STAR‐CCM+ and solves the Reynolds‐Averaged Navier‐Stokes (RANS) equation for unsteady flows. Preliminary CFD model results are compared to laboratory measurements. The variables being compared include inflow and wake flow velocity profiles, and performance coefficients (power, thrust and torque coefficients) at different tip‐speed ratios. A preliminary comparison suggests that overall the CFD simulation results have a good agreement with the measurements.