<P> The Boat Race is an annual rowing race between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club, rowed between men's and women's open - weight eights on the River Thames in London, England . It is also known as the University Boat Race and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race . </P> <P> The men's race was first held in 1829 and has been held annually since 1856, except during the First and Second World Wars . The first women's event was in 1927 and the race has been held annually since 1964 . Since 2015, the Women's race has taken place on the same day and course, the combined event of two races becoming known as "The Boat Races". In 2018, the combined event became known as simply "The Boat Race" with a men's and women's race, or by a title that includes the name of its official charity,' "The Cancer Research UK Boat Race", BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management having donated their sponsorship to the charity . The coxes can be men or women in either race . In the 2018 race, which took place on Saturday 24 March 2018, Cambridge won the men's and women's races and both reserve races . </P> <P> The course covers a 4.2 - mile (6.8 km) stretch of the Thames in West London, from Putney to Mortlake . Members of both teams are traditionally known as blues and each boat as a "Blue Boat", with Cambridge in light blue and Oxford dark blue . As of 2018, Cambridge has won the men's race 83 times and Oxford 80 times, with one dead heat . Cambridge has led Oxford in cumulative wins since 1930 . In the women's race, Cambridge have won the race 43 times and Oxford 30 times . Cambridge has led Oxford in cumulative wins since 1966 . A reserve boat race has been held since 1965 for the men and 1966 for the women . </P> <P> Over 250,000 people watch the race from the banks of the river each year . In 2009, a record 270,000 people watched the race live . A further 15 million or more watch it on television . </P>

Who has won the boat race more times