How many times have boats sunk during the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race and what happens if both boats sink?

THE Boat Race is almost here as Oxford and Cambridge lock horns again. Last year the light blues of Cambridge won on their home course in Ely after the race was moved due to Covid restrictions. What are the odds on a boat sinking and has it happened before? This year, SkyBet are offering odds […]

THE Boat Race is almost here as Oxford and Cambridge lock horns again.

Last year the light blues of Cambridge won on their home course in Ely after the race was moved due to Covid restrictions.

Times Newspapers Ltd

What are the odds on a boat sinking and has it happened before?

This year, SkyBet are offering odds of 16/1 on either boat to sink and 100/1 on both boats to sink.

There have been four previous sinkings in the Men’s Boat Race, starting with 1912 with both boats sank in stormy weather.

In 1951, the Oxford boat sank while in 1978 it was the turn of Cambridge.

In 1984, Cambridge suffered one of the race’s most farcical sinkings when their boat collided with a tug and split in half.

That was the last recorded sinking in the men’s race, but in 2016 the Cambridge women completed the race even though their boat had begun to sink.

What happens if both boats sink?

If both boats sink, the teams will race again at a later date.

This last happened in 1912, when Oxford won the re-arranged race two days after the original.