Bluff your way through Boat Race 2015

No idea what’s happening at The Boat Race? Here’s our guide to the course so you can bluff your way through all this week’s rowing chat.

Our boat race is better than yours /// Photo by MykReeve

The Boat Race course is the most famous rowing course in the world, as well as one of the prettiest. The course was first used in 1845, and bar three times when it was rowed in reverse, has remained unchanged since. Here The Tab takes you through the 4.2 miles of twists and turns which will, for the first time in 170 years host both the men’s and women’s crews this Saturday.

The Start

Putney Bridge marks the start of the race. The crews will boat from the boathouses along the shore and warm up down river towards Wandsworth before lining up here to begin. The crews toss a coin beforehand to decide who gets which side. The Surrey side, to the right of the photo below, offers an early disadvantage but is commonly prefered as it is significantly quicker around Hammersmith Bridge. The Middlesex side, to the left, allows crews to gain an early lead by Craven Cottage.

Looking downstream towards the Bridge

Craven Cottage

The next major landmark is Fulham’s ground Craven Cottage, which today hosts the Varsity Football match. Very early on in the course, whichever crew is ahead here will have had a better start. But the race has barely begun.

Craven Cottage

The Mile Post

A landmark in name only, this isn’t even a quarter of the way into the race. It’s around here that the Middlesex starting side will aim to capitalise. If they gain enough of a lead they can cut in front of the other crew, and the race is all but over. An important spot.

Not really a landmark…..

Harrods’ Depository

The start of a huge left hand bend that favours the Surrey crew, Harrods’ depository used to store furniture for the luxury retailer before being converted into luxury flats.

Hammersmith Bridge

One of the best places to watch the race, Hammersmith Bridge is tactically key. The cox (the small guy who steers the boat) has to aim for the second lamppost on the left to get the best line. This huge corner can make or break crews so it is vital they get it right.

Chiswick Eyot

A island over to the right hand side of the Thames, Chiswick Eyot marks the end of the major left hander. Here the crew ahead tend to put in a big push to break the crew behind, and the behind crew must really ramp up the power to remain in contact.

Barnes Bridge

The right hander just before Barnes Bridge can help the Middlesex starting side, providing they’ve managed to hang on round the outside of the Hammersmith Bend. Crews still have about a mile to go at this point.

looking downstream towards Chiswick Eyot

Looking upstream towards Barnes Bridge

Mortlake Brewery

Having shot Barnes Bridge, the end is almost in sight as crews race by the Budweiser Brewery. Legs on fire and lungs aching, crews will be digging deep for the very last reserves of power and energy they have.

The Fullers and Budweiser Brewery

The Line

The 4.2 miles are nearly over. 9 months of training all for this: which crew will cross the the finish first? Situated just before Chiswick Bridge, this is the be all and end all.

The Podium

Here the winners will be presented the trophy, delivered by Royal Marines, and the losers consoled.

Stay tuned to our Twitter for live coverage of the biggest university rivalry in the country this Saturday.