The Championship Course | The Boat Race (original) (raw)
Putney to Mortlake
The Boat Race course, known as the Championship Course is 4 miles, 374 yards or 6.8 km long.
It stretches between Putney and Mortlake on the River Thames in South West London.
This course was first used for The Men’s Boat Race in 1845 and has been used for every Men’s Boat Race since; apart from 1846, 1856 and 1863 when the race was held in the opposite direction between Mortlake and Putney and 2021 when the Race was held in Ely.
The Fulham/Chiswick side of the course is known as the Middlesex station. The Putney/Barnes side of the course is known as the Surrey station.
The Boat Race is rowed upstream, but is timed to start on the incoming “flood” tide.
The Men’s Boat Race is an hour and a half before high tide, with The Women’s Boat Race a further hour before so that the crews are rowing with the fastest possible current.
University Boat Race Stone – The Start
The University Stone is set into the towpath on Putney Embankment a few metres west of Putney Bridge.
The Boat Race will start from two stake boats moored so that the competitors’ bows are in line with the University Stone. There is an equivalent stone set into the bank, adjacent to The Ship pub in Mortlake, at the finish of The Boat Race.
There are lots of great activities happening in Putney, it’s the perfect place to watch the coin toss, cheer the crews out and enjoy a friendly family atmosphere. It’s also where we host our hospitality guests – last few tickets still available.
Getting to Putney:
Craven Cottage
A striking landmark on The Boat Race course now is the fantastic new Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage, home to Fulham Football Club.
This year, for the first time, fans will be able to watch the race from the riverside path running behind the stadium giving access from Bishops Park.
Bishops Park and Craven Cottage together form our Fan Zone for The Gemini Boat Race and is going to be a great place to watch the race with big screens, food, refreshments and more – Learn More
Getting to the Fulham Fan Zone:
Hammersmith Bridge
At Hammersmith Bridge the advantage of the Surrey bend starts to come into play. Traditionally cox’s aim for the second lamp post from the left as they pass under the bridge.
80% of crews ahead at Hammersmith Bridge go on to win. It is at this point the cox on the Surrey station can steer a course to capitalise on their advantage, trying to push the Middlesex crew as wide as the Umpire will allow.
The Men’s Boat Race record to Hammersmith Bridge of 6 mins 20 secs was established by Cambridge in 1998, and The Women’s Boat Race record of 7 mins 8 secs was also established by Cambridge in 2017.
Getting to Hammersmith:
Chiswick Eyot
Pronounced eight, Chiswick Eyot is a small uninhabited island, formerly used for growing osiers (a type of Salix or Willow used for basket making). It is now a nature reserve.
The river is very briefly straight here and as a result can be exposed to some rough conditions – such as The Boat Race in 2006. Often one crew will make their decisive move as they approach the island.
Barnes Bridge
Barnes Bridge is the final bridge that the crews will pass under as they race and in a tight race can prove to be a key area for tactics as the river sweeps sharply round towards the finish at Chiswick, giving an advantage to the crew on the inside of the bend.
Whether they’re winning or losing, don’t expect to see smiles on the faces of the athletes as they pass here, this is where it really hurts with only a few minutes left!
There are a handful of great pubs to watch from here (like the one pictured) – read our pubs guide here.
The Finish
The finish is just before Chiswick Bridge, marked by the University Boat Race Stone on the Surrey Bank and a post in the river on the Middlesex side painted in the University’s colours.
After months of training, if not years, it is here that the winners express their joy and the losers their despair.
The Men’s Boat Race record is held by the 1998 Cambridge crew who completed the course in 16 mins 19 secs. The Women’s Boat Race record of 18 mins 33 secs was established by the 2017 Cambridge crew. The times however mean little when considered against the result of the day; won or lost.
