<P> In the 1912 race, run in extremely poor weather and high winds, both crews sank . Oxford rowed into a significant early lead, but began taking on water, and made for the bank shortly after passing Hammersmith Bridge to empty the boat out: although they attempted to restart, the race was abandoned at this point because Cambridge had also sunk, while passing the Harrods Depository . </P> <P> Cambridge also sank in 1859 and in 1978, while Oxford did so in 1925, and again in 1951; the 1951 race was re-rowed on the following Monday . In 1984 the Cambridge boat sank after colliding with a barge before the start of the race, which was then rescheduled for the next day . In 2016, at Barnes Bridge, Cambridge women began to sink and received advice from the umpire to pull to the side . The Cambridge cox indicated that she wanted to continue to complete the course and was allowed to do so . </P> <P> The course is 4 miles and 374 yards (6.779 km) from Putney to Mortlake, passing Hammersmith and Barnes; it is sometimes referred to as the Championship Course, and follows an S shape, east to west . The start and finish are marked by the University Boat Race Stones on the south bank . The clubs' presidents toss a coin (the 1829 sovereign) before the race for the right to choose which side of the river (station) they will row on: their decision is based on the day's weather conditions and how the various bends in the course might favour their crew's pace . The north station (' Middlesex') has the advantage of the first and last bends, and the south (' Surrey') station the longer middle bend . </P> <P> During the race the coxes compete for the fastest current, which lies at the deepest part of the river, frequently leading to clashes of blades and warnings from the umpire . A crew that gets a lead of more than a boat's length can cut in front of their opponent, making it extremely difficult for the trailing crew to gain the lead . For this reason the tactics of the race are generally to go fast early on, and few races have a change of the lead after halfway (though this happened in 2003, 2007 and 2010). </P>

The boat race course between putney and mortlake