The Tideway produced white-capped waves with the wind against the tide on Wednesday morning and both Boat Race crews braved the elements, presumably with the thought that it could happen on Race day.

 

Oxford paddled a Putney to Barnes distance, experiencing rolling waves from Putney to Fulham; more passing Hammersmith where they experienced a crab, and more again after Barnes Bridge.

Cambridge’s earlier paddle over the course had not been so rough, but, in a pre-lunch outing, the Light Blues survived through dreadful water below and above Putney Bridge, finishing with a two minute row off the start against their reserves, Goldie.

Conditions were so bad that Coach Chris Nilsson did away with a proposed simulated stake boat start.

The Cambridge Blue Boat were 1 ½ lengths faster than Goldie, and both crews shipped a lot of water.

The Boat Race starts at 3.40pm this Sunday, with thousands of people set to line the banks along the four and a half mile course and live coverage from 2.20pm.

Meanwhile a new online video has been released on the research of ethnographer and Judge Business School lecturer Mark De Rond who spent a year embedded with the Boat Club and gained some fascinating insight into what makes a perfect crew. See the link above right

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