boat race 6th boat race took place river_thames june boat_race rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge race substantially interrupted river traffic oxford beat cambridge distance half lengths background boat race held rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues cambridge went race reigning champions having defeated oxford lengths previous year race led overall wins oxford received challenge race secretary proposed race universities place late june early july cambridge rejected suggestion maintaining easter race challenge captain sent reply fact insufficient numbers provide suggesting instead rejected cambridge offered row crew club clubs whatsoever somewhat discussion agreed oxford challenge cambridge june light blues row thames june race took place quarter mile stretch thames umpire race commodore crews oxford crew weighed average pounds rower opposition oxford crew rowed previous cambridge saw return previous year event including rowed race race cambridge won toss elected start middlesex river handing oxford surrey river boats started arches oxford better start cambridge pulled ahead led course diverted river traffic including steamer lighter allowing dark blues retake lead according free swell continued extend lead clear cambridge began close gap mile oxford passed lead half lengths time minutes second victory inaugural race win london water
The Boat Race 1842