The Boat Race 2021

52°24′34″N 00°18′01″E / 52.40944°N 0.30028°E / 52.40944; 0.30028

The Boat Race 2021
Date4 April 2021
Men's race
WinnerCambridge
Margin of victoryAlmost a length
Winning time14:10
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)
85–80
UmpireSarah Winckless
Women's race
WinnerCambridge
Margin of victoryAlmost a length
Winning time16:29
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)
45–30
UmpireJudith Packer
Reserves' races
Men's winnersGoldie
Women's winnersBlondie

The Boat Race 2021 was an event comprising two side-by-side rowing races that took place on 4 April 2021. The Boat Race is contested annually between crews from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Usually held on the traditional Championship Course in London, the 2021 race took place on the River Great Ouse near Ely, Cambridgeshire, between Queen Adelaide Bridge (hamlet of Queen Adelaide) and Sandhill Bridge (village of Littleport). This was the 75th women's race and the 166th men's race; the 2020 race was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Before the 2021 races, Cambridge led the longstanding rivalry 84–80 in the men's race and 44–30 in the women's.

The crews were announced on 25 March 2021. It was the first time in the history of the event that both the women's and men's races were officiated by female umpires, Judith Packer and Sarah Winckless respectively. Cambridge's women's crew were considered strong favourites to win their race. Oxford's women's crew took an early lead but Cambridge responded to win. Oxford's men were favourites to defeat Cambridge, but failed to do so: Cambridge won by just under one length. The reserve races took place three weeks later on 25 April 2021: Cambridge completed a clean sweep for a third consecutive year after Goldie won the men's and Blondie won the women's reserves race.