The Boat Race 2025

The Boat Race 2025 was a series of side-by-side rowing races in London which took place on 13 April 2025.

Held annually, The Boat Race is contested between crews from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, usually along a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) tidal stretch of the River Thames, known as the Tideway, in south-west London. This was the 79th women's race and the 170th men's race. As with the previous year, Cambridge won both the men's and women's races.

The Boat Race is an annual side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")^[1] and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues").^[1] First held in 1829, the race usually takes place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course, between Putney and Mortlake on the River Thames in south-west London.^[2] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities; the race is followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide.^[3][4]

The French luxury brand Chanel took over the title sponsor for the 2025 race.^[5] The Chanel J12 Boat Race is named after the J12 unisex watch launched by Chanel in 2000 and "inspired by the J Class 12-metre race boats from the early 20th century".^[6][7]

The crews were announced on 26 March 2025 at Battersea Power Station.^[8]

The women's race, umpired by Matthew Pinsent,^[9] began at 13:21 BST but was temporarily halted when the Oxford crew drifted towards Cambridge and the teams' oars collided. Pinsent considered disqualifying Oxford,^[10] but the race restarted with a one-third-length advantage to Cambridge.^[11] Cambridge won the race with a time of 19:24.80,^[12] beating Oxford by 7.72 seconds.^[10][12]

The men's race, umpired by Sarah Winckless,^[9] was scheduled to commence at 14:21, but was postponed for ten minutes while debris in the river was cleared.^[8][13] Cambridge won the race with a time of 16:56.72,^[14] beating Oxford by 16.22 seconds.^[10][14]