Course
The course is 4 miles and 374 yards (6.779 km) from Putney to Mortlake, passing Hammersmith and Barnes; it is sometimes referred to as the Championship Course, and follows an S shape, east to west. The start and finish are marked by the University Boat Race Stones on the south bank. The clubs' presidents toss a coin (the 1829 sovereign) before the race for the right to choose which side of the river (station) they will row on: their decision is based on the day's weather conditions and how the various bends in the course might favour their crew's pace. The north station ('Middlesex') has the advantage of the first and last bends, and the south ('Surrey') station the longer middle bend.
During the race the coxes compete for the fastest current, which lies at the deepest part of the river, frequently leading to clashes of blades and warnings from the umpire. A crew that gets a lead of more than a boat's length can cut in front of their opponent, making it extremely difficult for the trailing crew to gain the lead. For this reason the tactics of the race are generally to go fast early on, and few races have a change of the lead after half-way (though this happened in 2003, 2007 and 2010).
The race is rowed upstream, but is timed to start on the incoming flood tide so that the crews are rowing with the fastest possible current. If a strong wind is blowing from the west it will be against the tide in places along the course, causing the water to become very rough. The conditions are sometimes such that an international regatta would be cancelled, but the Boat Race has a tradition of proceeding even in potential sinking conditions (see Sinkings above).
During the race the crews pass various traditional landmarks, visible from the river:
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Oxford boats from Westminster School Boat Club (left), and Cambridge from King's College School Boat Club (right). Both clubs are near the Start, just downstream of the Black Buoy. The crews warm up by rowing downstream below Putney Bridge before taking their places at the start. | |
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The race starts from two stake boats moored so that the competitors' bows are in line with the University Stone on the south bank. The winner of the toss has the choice of station. The Surrey station won 10 out of the 15 races 1994–2008 – though this is not statistically significant. | |
| Coxes raise their arms while their VIIIs are getting into position. When both crews are ready the Umpire starts the race by waving a red flag. In the straight section after the start the Middlesex crew tries to hold the fastest water on the centre line of the river. | ||
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Roughly marks the end of the Putney Boat Houses. The Black Buoy has been painted yellow to avoid collisions. | |
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'Craven Cottage': crews stay wide (preferring the Surrey bank) round the bend as the area in front of the football ground (known as 'the Fulham flats') is shallow, with slack water. | |
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The 'post' is in fact a stone monument to rowing coach Steve Fairbairn. Exactly a mile from the Boat Race start, it is a traditional timing point. The Middlesex bank water continues to be shallow and slack all the way to Hammersmith Bridge. | |
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This section is called the "Crabtree Reach" after the Crabtree Tavern pub on the Middlesex bank (just to the right of the camera). | |
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Previously the warehouse for the famous shop, now apartments. For the next 8–9 minutes the bend will be in Surrey's favour. The deep water channel now lies close to the Surrey bank. | |
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Coxes aim for the second lamp-post from the left which marks the deepest part of the river and therefore the fastest line. 80%–85% of boats ahead at Hammersmith Bridge have won, though only 50% in the last 6 years. The turning point comes once the crews are under Hammersmith Bridge. | |
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1.80 miles have been rowed and the direction and perhaps the wind and water conditions are about to change. The next 3–4 minutes are Surrey's last major opportunity to kill the Middlesex crew off. | |
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An uninhabited river island. The river is straight again, and the deepest water is half-way between the Eyot and the Surrey bank. | |
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Just visible to crews, behind the eyot. The most exposed section of the course with the risk of wind problems. | |
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2.87 miles have been rowed. If there are wind problems the inside of the Middlesex bend may offer calmer water. | |
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Marks the end of the long Surrey bend. The deep water channel is in the centre of the river. | |
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The deep water channel lies close to the Middlesex bank at this point, and water near the Surrey bank is shallow. | |
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Crews must pass through the centre arch. 95% of boats leading here have won. Only one boat has won since 1945 when trailing at Barnes Bridge: Oxford came from behind this late in 2002. The Barnes Bridge corner by Emanuel School Boat House is very tight: if both crews are level this is a real test for the coxes. | |
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3.94 miles have been rowed. Previously a Watneys brewery, now producing Budweiser beer. | |
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The finish, just before Chiswick Bridge is marked by a stone on the south bank and a post on the north bank. |
At the conclusion of the race, the boats come ashore on the paved area in front of the boathouse at Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground, on the Middlesex shore, where shortly after the race the trophy is presented to the winning team. It is traditional for the winning side to throw their Cox in the Thames to celebrate their achievement. In the arms of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, which covers much of the course, two griffin supporters hold oars, one light blue, one dark, in reference to the Boat Race. These colours are highly unusual in English heraldry.
Read more about this topic: The Boat Race