The Boat Race 2025
Tidal Thames
The Universities of Cambridge and Oxford will once again compete in the Boat Race this Sunday (13 April), in one of the oldest and most famous amateur sporting events in the world.
Taking place on a course that covers over four miles of the tidal Thames in West London, between Putney and Mortlake, the Boat Race attracted over 250,000 spectators last year to watch these famous rivals.
Every year, the PLA begins preparations for the Boat Race as early as November. Colleagues from across the PLA work together to ensure the prestigious race can be held as safely as possible, working closely with the event organisers. This includes supporting all the preliminary activity in the lead up, such as the trials to select the crews and the media fixtures, preparing the racecourse with sinkers, getting the PLA boats ready for their roles, organising the necessary river closures for the practice starts and race itself and communicating these to other river users.
The Women's Boat Race is first up at 13:21, followed by the Men's at 14:21.
Youth Race
The Youth Boat Race, which began last year, returned to the river last Saturday (5 April) on a mission to make rowing more accessible, inclusive and empowering for all young people.
Hosted by Fulham Reach Boat Club (FRBC), and supported by The Boat Race Fund, over 100 state school students and volunteers from across London came together to participate in the event, demonstrating growing diversity within the sport of rowing.
Adam Freeman-Pask, CEO of Fulham Reach Boat Club, opened the event with a powerful welcome:
"Today isn't just about racing—it's about the opportunity to take part, make friends, build a community, and share the journey of these incredible young athletes taking to the water. This event, inspired by the iconic Boat Race, shows that rowing belongs to everyone. Whether you're racing, supporting, or volunteering—thank you for being part of this journey."
