boat race 16th boat race took place april held annually event rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames extremely rough conditions cambridge request rejected oxford won cambridge sank time history event crews complete course background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues race held taken place mile championship course river thames southwest london cambridge went race reigning champions having defeated oxford seven half lengths previous year race led overall wins oxford race oxford instigated new method crew selection trial prior selection crew recommendations college boat club captains oxford boat club president remarked trust sic college captains following race trial final crew selected weeks prior race cambridge introduce selection method race oxford began training march outing day april cambridge hand arrived london days race thames race umpired rowed oxford twice march december races race crews oxford saw return blues lane rowed race cambridge welcomed rowers including rowed races oxford crew weighed average approximately pounds man opponents race weather sky overcast heavy clouds gale force winds according report times easy pitch unfavourable day race cambridge pre race favourites requested conditions oxford refused request cambridge lost toss handed surrey station start middlesex station provided oxford considerable relief rough water wind oxford boat heavily criticised right quickly apparent cambridge boat light conditions began taking water moment left shore oxford good start mile lengths ahead cambridge conditions soon worsened flotilla following crews looked bound hammersmith_bridge cambridge boat ankle deep water sinking rough water oxford took opportunity extend lead pulled away opponents boats following cambridge vessel sank opposite pub crew picked boats swam shore oxford recorded winning time minutes seconds took overall record favour cambridge time event history boat sank
The Boat Race 1859