boat race 3rd boat race took place river_thames april second held river_thames time westminster cambridge competed years oxford cambridge raced representatives universities independent referee oversaw proceedings cambridge won race lengths largest winning margin history event background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford referred dark blues university_of_cambridge referred light blues race held takes place river_thames southwest london race universities held instead cambridge raced years race oxford cambridge acted referee cambridge boat constructed oxford beautifully constructed vessel built king oxford race scheduled place quarter mile stretch oxford trained thames cambridge guided cox crews oxford crew weighed average rower pounds man opponents oxford crew featured year race stroke cox returned cambridge described terrific saw oxford boat club president rowed stroke dark blues cambridge non rowing president race race commodore royal thames yacht club fulfilled position referee race held wednesday april start time precisely conditions described cold cloudy worst sort day aquatic expedition according cambridge slight favourites oxford won toss elected commence closest middlesex shore river close start cambridge boat started draw away boats lengths ahead increased lead shot bridge minute seconds ahead won margin lengths remains largest history event cambridge victory took overall lead event
The Boat Race 1839