Weather Conditions for Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race 2nd April 2006

Sunny spells, heavy showers, possible hail storms, south-westerly wind at 39 mph (63 km/h) tide speed 1.05 m/s.

True to the weather forecast that is exactly what we got. The only thing predictable about the British weather is its unpredictability.

Pre-Race

It is a late start to the 2006 Boat Race, only three times in the last 50 years has it been scheduled later in the day than this. The reserves race took place slightly earlier finishing with a victory for Goldie (the Cambridge reserves) for a second year in a row increasing their lead in the series to 27- 15, on half of the previous 26 occasions Goldie have won beating the Oxford blue boat Isis. So as of 2006 Cambridge lead the Boat Race series 79-73, with one dead heat, while the Isis-Goldie series stands at 27-15.

The crew's line up, Oxford on the left, Cambridge on the right starting just beyond Putney Bridge . The race this year will start at 16:35 hours to take advantage of the fast incoming tide. Cambridge will have the inside of the first bend & hope to lead at Craven Cottage, through the mile post the river is straight for a while; the two crews will get the chance to test their speed at Harrods Depository before the bend turns around to the Surrey side, under Hammersmith Bridge second lamp post from the left then continues around in Oxfords favour. At this point the river can get rough. Rowing through the rough water the crews still on the Surrey bend to Oxfords advantage coming up to Chiswick Eyot on the right-hand side (pronounced 'eight') a long narrow island on the Thames .

Past the bandstand there is a short distance to go; Barnes Bridge is three minutes from the finish. Here the crews are sprinting flat out hoping the conditions are good enough to let them get a clean finish. All that matters at this point is who finishes first.

Of the men taking part in the 2006 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race are 10 Olympians, 15 with world championship experience, the Cambridge crew are on average 9 ounces a man heavier, 1 centimetre a man taller & just more than one year a man older. The average age for the Cambridge crew 26 years old & Oxford 24½ years old.

The umpire is Simon Harris. Harris, twice a losing Cambridge blue in 1982 and 1983 umpires his third Boat Race today. He was in charge of the 2000 and 2002 Boat Races – the roughest Boat Race conditions in the last 10 races. And for those looking for omens – both of those races were won by Oxford but the bookies favourite for the 2006 Boat Race is Cambridge at 2-1 to win.

The 2006 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race
Sunday 2nd April 16:35 hours

The race started on time in the weather conditions predicted. The competition is now in earnest as the crew's row past the deepest part of the river just past the start line & therefore where the water is quickest. It is fundamental to the winner of the race to find that point & stay in it. This is usually the root cause of any clashes between the opposing crews.

The record for reaching the mile post is 3 minutes & 31 seconds. In 2006 Oxford reached the mile post in 3 minutes & 44.80 seconds & Cambridge 3 minutes & 45.81 seconds. The number of strokes at this point per minute: Cambridge 34, Oxford 35.

The record time to reach Hammersmith Bridge 6 minutes 20 seconds. In 2006 Oxford reached Hammersmith Bridge in 6 minutes 41.4 seconds & Cambridge in + 0.7. The number of strokes at this point per minute: Oxford 36, Cambridge 35.

Up to & including 2005 Middlesex & Surrey stations have won 74 races each. As of 2005 Surrey station won 9 of the last 13 races.

Record to reach Chiswick Steps: 9 minutes 56 seconds. 2006 time to reach Chiswick Steps: Oxford 10 minutes 55 seconds & Cambridge +6.9. The number of strokes at this point per minute: Oxford 34, Cambridge 33.

Seven moths of hard training now being buffeted by Mother Nature as the rough weather predications are realised. Oxford have a pump to keep out the water, Cambridge haven't! The result is that at this stage of the race on a very rough River Thames, Cambridge are carrying an extra 40 kilos of water in their boat. Oxford have got a lead that is getting close to irretrievable, only 13 times in the history of the race has the team trailing at Chiswick Steps gone on to win the race. Cambridge have not won it from behind at this stage since 1961. Oxford did it in 2002 & 2003.

Record time to reach Barnes Bridge : 13 minutes 32 seconds. In 2006 Oxford reached Barnes Bridge in 15 minutes .01seconds, Cambridge +11.0. Only six crews have won when trailing at Barnes Bridge . Barnes Bridge according to the rules of the race must be shot through its central span & once they are through it they have just 1,250 yards (1,143 m) to the finish. Four years ago at this point at the 2002 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, Cambridge were half a second up & Oxford went on to win it. Every race since the end of the Second World War has been won by the leader at Barnes Bridge. Cambridge hasn't overtaken Oxford after this point since 1921.

Unofficial wartime races

Date	Location	Winner
1940	Henley-on-Thames	Cambridge
1943	Sandford-on-Thames	Oxford
1944	River Great Ouse, Ely	Oxford
1945	Unknown	Cambridge

At this point Cambridge are in serious trouble due to their boat in taking water (no pump on the Cambridge boat remember) which makes them sit lower, which makes it easier for more water to come in making the boat heavier all the while. There had been speculation of a sinking today, that hasn't come to pass; it has been a clean race through rough water though on Boat-Race day there is winning & nothing else.

The winners of the 2006 Oxford Cambridge Boat Race are Oxford University for the second year running and the fourth in five years with a time of 18 minutes 24 seconds. Oxford now moves to within five wins of a dispirited Cambridge in the age old series. A special achievement for an almost entirely reconstructed crew based on the heart & soul of Oxford 's Jesus College president Barney Williams.

Oxford won at Hammersmith Bridge, the reason: the crews tried to stay straight but Cambridge was pushed wide & then turned sharply, this left Cambridge floundering out in the middle of the river where the waves are large. This was a crucial point in the race & this is where Cambridge lost the race. This was also why Oxford chose the Surrey side so they could lead Cambridge out into the middle of the river where Cambridge had to fight the waves and unlike Oxford , Cambridge was not equipped with a pump & was taking in water.

Oxford win for the 73rd time & win the trophy with dark blue ribbons,

Cambridge get nothing.