The Boat Race 1981

127th Boat Race
Date4 April 1981
WinnerOxford
Margin of victory8 lengths
Winning time18 minutes 11 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)
68–58
UmpireRonnie Howard
(Oxford)
Other races
Reserve winnerIsis
Women's winnerOxford

The 127th Boat Race took place on 4 April 1981. Held annually, the Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. Umpired by former Oxford rower Ronnie Howard, it was won by Oxford who passed the finishing post eight lengths ahead of Cambridge, their largest margin of victory since 1898. The race saw Oxford coxed by Sue Brown, the first female cox in the history of the event.

In the reserve race, Isis beat Goldie by 4+12 lengths, and in the Women's Boat Race, Oxford were victorious.