Welcome to the race guide. In this section we explain how the crews are formed, describe significant markers on the course and detail events around the race.

How the crews are formed

The Boat Race year technically begins in September when both Oxford and Cambridge begin their winter training, each rower aiming to make it in the Blue Boat the following Spring. However, potential Boat Race crew members are encouraged to keep a base level of fitness over the summer months. Some compete internationally and with their clubs, of course. Others take part in specially-devised triathlons and overseas races. Over the course of the following months the triallists go through a rigorous training and selection programme until the coaches are confident that they have selected the eight best rowers, and the best cox, for their fastest crew.

Contrary to sometimes-quoted belief, neither university allows trialling rowers to forsake the academic commitments of their course. This makes training especially tough for those with a heavy lecture schedule and spare time is always at a premium. This applies particularly for those rowers whose courses include a lot of laboratory sessions such as research scientists or undergraduate engineers. Sometimes squad members will decide that training is simply too tough and drop out from the process, but the coaches are normally faced with the task of selection. This can mean difficult decisions - the differences between oarsmen are not always pronounced. Each University has also established a tradition of recruiting some of the leading oarsmen from around the globe who wish to pursue a world-class education at two such globally-renowned higher education institutions. In this way the composition of the crews reflects the increasing international make-up of the undergraduate and graduate student populations at Oxford and Cambridge.

By the start of March, though, the coaching teams will have made those difficult decisions and will have a good idea of who is going to make the Blue Boat. Those not quite making the cut will be in the reserve boat: Isis for Oxford, Goldie for Cambridge. The official announcement of the crews takes place traditionally in either very late February or early March.

Testing the rowers

The first test takes place in the "Trial Eights", a race between two crews from the same university over the Boat Race course, held in December. This allows coaches to see who copes best with the conditions and is a chance to blood the less experienced members of the squad. By tradition, each boat has a name. In December 2002 Cambridge raced ‘Understated’ against ‘Subtle’, whilst Oxford raced ‘Health’ and ‘Safety’. Other famous editions have been "Red Lorry/Yellow Lorry" and "Guns ‘n Roses". In 2005 Oxford raced "Slash" and "Burn" to highlight an "unsound" environmental practice.

Once boats are settled the squads will traditionally have pre-race matches or "fixtures" against some of the fastest clubs in the country such as Molesey and Leander - or latterly against foreign opposition. These can be fascinating as the opposition will contain experienced international athletes, some of whom are old Blues themselves.

Race Day

On race day the reserves will race first (Isis for Oxford and Goldie for Cambridge), followed about 30 minutes later by the Blue Boats. It had been tradition for the crews to race on a Saturday but in recent years this has become a Sunday.

The race is covered by ITV television, broadcast on LBC Radio, sponsored by Xchanging, and broadcast on TV around the world, viewers seeing the crews emerge from boathouses at Putney before setting off in front of the crowds to warm up on the river.

Once the race is over the crews come in to land at Mortlake and are greeted by their supporters who will share in the pain of losing or the euphoria of winning.