boat race crews university_of_oxford university_of_cambridge took place river_thames march umpired cambridge rower oxford won time minutes seconds race complicated bad weather faced water strong horizontal driving rain cambridge boat lacked took water sank fifth time boat sunk event reserve race cambridge beat oxford isis quarter lengths cambridge won 33rd women boat race background boat race rowing competition university_of_oxford university_of_cambridge held competition mile race river_thames southwest london rivalry major point honour universities followed united_kingdom worldwide oxford went race reigning champions having won race seven lengths cambridge leading overall victories oxford excluding dead heat race sponsored bbc paid event training race oxford sunk taking water weather decided fit boat cambridge opted leave boat unchanged prior year event history race cambridge sank oxford sank crews sank women boat race took place annual fixture 1960s contest conducted race held river_thames day men main reserve races reserve race contested oxford isis boat cambridge boat held usually takes place prior main boat race crews oxford crew contained old blues cambridge boat featured returning rowers ross race marked debut went represent oxford races cambridge crew marginally heavier rower averaging pounds oxford race description oxford won toss elected start surrey station false start race commenced reasonable weather conditions oxford took length lead hammersmith_bridge record time minutes seconds crews turned surrey bend conditions drastically worsened strong horizontal rain driving entering water attempt push past oxford cambridge challenge barnes bridge began water seconds boat started sink oxford crew realised contest rowed carefully finish time minutes seconds oxford victory row fourth past years reserve race cambridge beat oxford isis quarter lengths 33rd running cambridge reaction cambridge boat club president immediately challenged oxford president row challenge declined recalls hard painful memory boat_race supposed moments life cambridge preparation boat taken water fitting act monumental oxford cox fail told guardian surprised heard cambridge sunk going steadily forget water ride cambridge sinking featured channel greatest sporting moments
The Boat Race 1978