boat race 40th boat race annual rowing race crews universities oxford cambridge river thames took place march following confusion start race snow storm event oxford won margin half lengths time minutes seconds 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 oxford went race reigning champions having won previous year race seven lengths held overall lead victories cambridge excluding dead heat cambridge coaches rowed cambridge times races time blue rowing race oxford coached rowed oxford races represented oxford races briefly coached light blues year umpire race rowed cambridge times starter fulfilled position race oxford chose old boat race favour built cambridge crew subject late changes stroke seat times quick succession replaced result illness tactical decisions crews cambridge crew weighed average pounds opponents oxford crew contained blues including cox making appearance event cambridge saw participants return including president rowing boat race race featured non british participants cambridge brother charles competed race born victoria australia oxford hailed tasmania race cambridge pre race favourites oxford rower author noted public unaware significant improvements oxford following transition vessel oxford won toss elected start surrey station handing middlesex river cambridge race started quickly descended chaos darkness falling quickly apparent cambridge crew heard command starter according oxford bow old voice oxford stroke saw drop set cambridge boat west seized initiative took crew immediate lead despite extended lengths hammersmith_bridge went win half lengths time minutes seconds oxford fourth consecutive victory took overall record favour
The Boat Race 1883