PicoMicroYacht versus Oxford University

Relatively high winds and cold weather means I am training using the rowing machine. On Sunday I was in a safety patrol boat in the middle of Chichester Harbour so missed the Oxford and Cambridge boat race.

I watched it on iplayer, on my rowing machine at the same time. I was supporting Oxford and there was no comparison (I mean between me and Oxford).

Oxford at 45 at the start settling into a rhythm

Oxford went off at a stonking 45 strokes per minute and settled into an amazing rhythm between 34 and 36. I started at 20 and settled into 24, not so impressive. Because Oxford were in the lead and focused on their 'power plan,' by about Chiswick Steps they were down to 33  and keeping  ahead by 2/3 of a length. At this point I got off the rowing machine to start running my bath.

Cambridge trailing Oxford

When I returned, Oxford sprinted, their rate going up to about 37 and they drew clear ahead, just in time to avoid taking the outside of the next bend. I resumed rowing and kept going to the finish increasing to 26, whilst Oxford settled down to a sedate 34 until sprinting for the finish, but only at about 36. They didn't seem particularly exhausted at the end.