Parent Communications
To sign up for CUBC emails and the monthly newsletter, please fill in the form below. The newsletter publicises the most up-to-date information on events, fixtures, and major announcements.
You can also join the 2025-26 parent WhatsApp group. This is an informal group managed by Alastair Edge, father of Matt Edge, who is the 2025-26 parent representative on the CUBC Alumni & Parent Engagement Committee. Here you will be able to connect with other parents, ask questions, and share photos.
Boat Race Lingo
Don’t know your Blue from your Blondie? Confused by the catch and the crab? We’ve put together a raft of rowing terminology for anyone who needs to brush up on their Boat Race vocabulary.
The Rowing Calendar & Parent Events Explained
Over the course of the Boat Race Season many events will take place. Read more about each event below.
The Fours Head
The Head of the River Fours was founded in 1955 and takes place on the Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake. The Fours Head will take place on Saturday 15 November 2025, providing opportunities for racing in coxed fours. This is often the best opportunity to get an early form guide with crews from both Oxford and Cambridge on the water racing one another (albeit against the clock rather than head to head and in fours not eights). If you’re in London on Sunday and want to cheer on the crews, timetables, crew lists, and boating locations are published on The Boat Race website.
Trial Eights
A traditional part of The Boat Race Season is the “Trial Eights” races. Our coaches field two matched eights from each of the four squads (men’s, women’s, men’s lightweights, women’s lightweights) to battle head to head over the full Championship course as part of a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the main event on 3-4 April 2026.
The squads each select names for their crews, often drawing on key moments of history, something meaningful to the squads, or something more light hearted.
Cambridge Trial Eights will take place on Thursday 18 December 2025. The Boat Race Company invites alumni, parents, and supporters to gather each year, usually at London Rowing Club, to cheer on the crews. Event details and a link to RSVP will be shared in due course.
Fixtures – what are they?
After the Holiday break, the squads will return to London in the weeks leading up to the Boat Race to contest “fixtures” against various opponents invited by both the Oxford and Cambridge coaches. The fixtures, which are generally shorter pieces on sections of the Boat Race course, are an opportunity for our coaches to select what they think might be their best racing crews and pit them against some of the best Club and National team opposition in the UK and Europe. It’s a chance to see how the prospective athletes cope with pressure, and also an opportunity to try out race day tactics against unknowing opposition. Further details on The Boat Race website.
The Boat Race Company hosts alumni, parents, and supporters for certain fixtures, with events typically taking place at London Rowing Club. A full time table of 2026 fixtures, along with links to RSVP for Watch Parties will be shared in due course.
Crew Announcements
The Boat Race Company holds an annual event for the announcement of the Oxford and Cambridge Men’s and Women’s Blue Boats. In 2025, the event took place at Battersea Power Station and was open to the public (friends, family, and fans). Details for the 2026 announcement will be publicised in due course.
The reserve crews from Oxford and Cambridge (Goldie, Blondie, Isis, and Osiris) and the lightweight crews from Oxford and Cambridge will then be announced by the respective Clubs and Universities online.
The Lightweight Boat Race and Veteran’s Races 2026
📅 Friday 3 April 2026
The Boat Race Company hosts an Oxford and Cambridge Supporters’ Watch Party each year (usually at London Rowing Club and/or Thames Rowing Club). Further details to follow in subsequent Club communications.
- Women’s Lightweight Boat Race 13:50
- Women’s Veterans’ Race (Crews made up of Cambridge and Oxford alumni)
- Men’s Veterans’ Race (Crews made up of Cambridge and Oxford alumni)
- Men’s Lightweight Boat Race 14:50
CUBC Supporters Drinks Gathering
(following the Lightweight Boat Race and ahead of the Boat Race)
Each year we host a gathering on the ground floor of the Duke’s Head in Putney at 5:30pm for Cambridge parents and families, alumni, supporters, and the men’s and women’s lightweight crews and their coaches. The event is an opportunity to meet other parents and families and socialise following The Lightweight Boat Race and ahead of The Boat Race. All Cambridge supporters are welcome. Welcome drinks and light food will be served on a first come, first serve basis and a cash bar will be available. There is no need to book — just show up!
The Boat Race 2026
📅 Saturday 4 April 2026
There are a number of ways for parents and families to enjoy The Boat Race.
- 80th Women’s Boat Race 14:21
- Blondie v Osiris (Women’s Reserve Race) 14:36
- Goldie v Isis (Men’s Reserve Race) 14:51
- 171st Men’s Boat Race 15:21
Broadcast Coverage of The Boat Race 2026
There will be opportunities for fans all around the world to watch The Boat Race on 4 April 2026. Stay up to date on domestic and international broadcast details using the link below. Spectators will be able to view live coverage and recordings on The Boat Race YouTube channel pending any regional restrictions.
Further spectator experience details will be announced in subsequent Club communications.
The 2026 Boat Race Dinner
What is the Boat Race Dinner?
The Boat Race Dinner is an annual event that celebrates the achievements of those racing in The Boat Race and Lightweight Boat Races by welcoming them as life members of CUBC. The 2026 Boat Race Dinner will be held after the The Boat Race on Saturday 4 April 2026.
Parents are encouraged to attend, but due to capacity constraints, please note we cannot offer places to partners of current athletes or extended family members. The dress code for the dinner is black-tie/cocktail or evening dresses.
Parent perspective: What to expect from trialling?
Alastair Edge, Parent Representative, Alumni & Parent Engagement Committee (father of Matt Edge)
The 2026 Boat Race is potentially the seventh one I will have experienced as a parent, three as a Lightweight and four as an Openweight. Each of those races has been a marathon for my son and for us as his supportive family! A very rewarding and nerve-wracking ride that is an achievement for the massive team of people that allow the Boat Race to happen.
Each rower will start their journey towards The Boat Race in early September with pre-season trails. This is a tough process in which ambition and achievement are often light years apart. As a parent it is possibly the hardest time to reassure your beloved child who has been advised to go back to college rowing that there will be other chances and future redemption. There are numerous Boat Race crews made up of rowers who were cut at various points in a given year but came back again and made it through. Better to have strived for a glittering prize that was ultimately just out of reach than never having tried.
Once term starts and the more regular CUBC cycle of 12 training sessions a week starts, then you will find you hear less about how things are going and more complaints about being tired. The coaches and support staff are the ones who will spot possible issues and deal with them at this point so as the nights get longer you should concentrate on being positive and reassuring whenever you get the chance.
The biggest warning I would give to any first time Boat Race parent is be prepared for a very short Christmas! The timing of Trial 8s in the second week of December and the start of the winter training camp (often starting 1st January) leaves very little time with them at home. Plus they will sneak off to train as well. Ultimately it’s worth it but you should definitely manage your expectations at that point.
at the prizegiving for the 2020 Lightweight Boat Race.
As we get into the New Year and the countdown to the Boat Race enters “weeks to go” then the really tough process of finalising the crews and deciding who are the spares kicks in. The coaches are very good at managing this and the whole squad work hard to support each other in this. They all want to make sure the best rowers are at the start in Putney but each one of them wants to be in that boat themselves. The practice fixtures and the pressure of knowing one bad day or “bizarre gardening accident” might end your dreams all make this a very difficult time. However, as the days lengthen and the formal crew announcement comes along everything starts to focus on the race itself.
As you get to the Race weekend, make sure you arrive in plenty of time. Watch The Lightweight Boat Race on Friday 3 April and join the family and supporters for a drink in Putney that evening.
My number one recommendation for Boat Race Day, Saturday 4 April, is to have a simple plan. There are many options, with formal hospitality at one end, to mixing with the crowds in the fan parks and standing on the banks at the other. There is no wrong choice but make sure you have as many family and friends around as you can and enjoy the atmosphere. And afterwards please go to The Boat Race Dinner that evening if you can. It’s an opportunity to relax with your rower once the pressure is off them and they can appreciate their achievement of being part of The Boat Race. Whether they win or lose, the evening after a Boat Race is the time to draw the very great positives from the experience.
I have shared the euphoria of Matt’s wins as well as his pain in defeat. His first Boat Race was the lightweight race in 2020. It came just before lockdown and although the Cambridge men lost, it was the moment that we as parents saw him grow up to be a young man from a 19 year old boy in one afternoon. I was potentially proudest of him then when I saw his acceptance of defeat as a process that had only just started. The 2021 lightweight race was an eery experience sitting on the banks of the Great Ouse in Ely with Matt stroking the boat to a narrow loss and we weren’t able to console him in person that evening due to COVID-19 restrictions. The 2022 lightweight race Matt stoked the boat as President and took his leadership very seriously to bring the best out of the crew. They won by 5 lengths and seeing him give his speech at the dinner afterwards was a moment will live with me to my final breath. The high of that evening was so vivid because of the defeats that came before it. Always remember that a setback is never the end of the story, just the opportunity to start of another chapter.
The Parents WhatsApp group provides a forum for us to get information and advice at the various stages of this process. I hope that you can use it whenever you are unsure or have something to share. The family atmosphere to the CUBC crews is something quite extraordinary. They share a bond that lasts lifetimes as evidenced by the crews who reunite at The Boat Race Dinner every year. I hope we can replicate some of that supportive environment between us and enjoy the whole experience from beginning to end.
Coaches’ Perspective, January-April: What to expect from the remainder of trialling and selection?
Rob Baker, Men’s Chief Coach
Each year we have a January training camp in Avis, Portugal. Because this takes place out of term, the squad is full focused, working incredibly hard. We then have to push on with our training and preparation whilst balancing the academic pressure that comes in the Lent term. In this term we will have three fixtures lined ups for our crews. These races are very important to test the crews and individuals to see how we hold up, what we can learn and improve on as we build towards the 3-4 April 2026. Selection is ongoing during this time and we want to give everyone the most amount of time possible, whilst still giving the crews time to bed in and work together. Post-Boat Race we are very interested in having a good contingent racing at Henley Royal Regatta and representing the Club there at the highest level possible.
Paddy Ryan, Women’s Chief Coach
The selection process:
- The Blue Boats are selected before reserve crews through testing on the water which can be long and tiring. Don’t be surprised if you don’t hear much from the athletes over this period, testing can often take place over multiple days and the final crew won’t be announced until close to the Races so they might not be able to tell you for sure what the outcome is.
- Athletes that are in contention for reserve and lightweight crews will be selected later. The uncertainty can be tricky for athletes, so try to avoid overloading the athletes with questions.
The build up:
- During the last few months in the run up to The Boat Race the crews will take part in “Fixtures.” These are 1 on 1 races against other top universities and clubs, and take place over portions of The Boat Race course.
- The crews that race the fixtures will be provisional and there is potential that these will change going into The Boat Race.
- The squads will be in London almost every other week in the run up to The Boat Race. In between this will be testing weekends and other preparations, so it is a busy schedule.
Lightweight athletes:
- The lightweight crews will be preparing to make weight on race day. This means that they have to be under a specified weight. If they don’t make this weight they are unable to race. Some athletes will naturally be at weight, others might have to be conscious of getting to weight. Please be supportive of this and avoid adding unnecessary pressure, as they will be fully supported by the Club.
Preparing to watch the Boat Race:
- If you are attending the race in person, make sure you have planned in advance. Decide where to watch the race, ensure you have booked accommodation, and if you are coming to The Boat Race Dinner purchase your tickets in plenty of time. The athletes will want to focus on preparing for the race and won’t have much headspace to help you organise this. Spectator and event information can be found on this page and will be advertised in Club communications. If you have any questions, please contact admin@cubc.org.uk.
Boat Race week:
- The athletes will move down to London just over a week before the race. They will be busy with training, crew meetings and continuing to work on their degree. However, if you are in London and want to see them please do, as it can be good for them to take a break from the squad. It’s best to limit it to coffee or lunch in Putney, as they won’t have much time and also need to rest. Most crews will organise their dinners together and it is important that they have this time to plan and bond, so check with them as to what they are doing. When visiting with athletes, please take precautions and do not visit them in person if you are ill. If this is unavoidable, please see them outside with a mask.
Spares races:
- The spares races (lightweight and openweight spare pair) will take place during Boat Race week (date TBC). These races take place between the start line and the milepost, so the best place to watch is along the embankment. Cambridge always manages to produce a good crowd for the spares races. It’s an exciting one to watch as it marks the start of The Boat Races.
Boat Race Day
- The Lightweight Boat Race: 3 April 2026
The crews will arrive in Putney in the morning to do a pre-paddle and weigh in. If you want to wave them off for their pre-paddle please do so from the embankment. Do not try to access the boathouses or engage athletes in a conversation; they will be in preparation mode. After they have weighed in there will be a break before the race where they can pop out of the boathouses to say hello, but they won’t come out for long as they will have briefings and warm ups to do. The crews will boat around 45 minutes before they race (the athletes will be able to tell you the exact time). It is tradition for supporters to be outside the boathouses to clap the crews out onto the water. After the race, the athletes will disembark at Mortlake.
- The Boat Race: 4 April 2026
The crews (The Blue Boats, Goldie and Blondie) will pre-paddle in the morning and then head back to their accommodation. Don’t expect to see the athletes during this period. The athletes will be driven down to the boathouses a couple of hours before the race. A large number of supporters will have arrived beforehand and will applaud the arrival of the minibuses and as the athletes enter the boathouses. It’s worth arriving early to see this! The coin toss between the presidents will happen on the embankment after the arrival of the athletes. Following this, the athletes will have a short period in which to come out of the boathouses to say hello to friends and family. Please do not try to find them in the boathouses. The crews will boat about 45 minutes before the race. There will be an announcement for this and the crowds will applaud them onto the water. After the race, crews will disembark at Mortlake. Parents will not be able to access the finish area.
Supporting the Club
Parent and Family Involvement
Whilst our student-athletes are excelling on the water, we are seeking to address new challenges behind the scenes. Our commitment to providing your rower with a rigorous and formative experience remains firm. But to do that we need support from alumni, parents, and families.
Preparing six race-ready crews, ensuring they have the right equipment and support to train and to race, comes at a substantial cost each year. Costs amount to roughly £15,000 per student, of which the rowers contribute approximately £1,000 through student subscriptions (this is often funded in part by their college). We also run an extensive development programme in which college rowers participate.
Gifts to CUBC will enable young men and women to reach their sporting potential as part of a high performance team. Our aim is to ensure cost is not a barrier for any student-athlete competing for a place in a Boat Race crew.
If you’re in a position to give, please join existing parent donors by making a gift today. All gifts, large or small, are warmly welcome and hugely appreciated. We particularly welcome recurring gifts, which provide sustainable support for our student-athletes.
In the past, we have also heard from parents interested in underwriting the cost of specific items like equipment. A full list of these funding opportunities can be found below. Please contact Sarah-Kate Roberts, Head of Philanthropy & Communications, at sarah-kate@cubc.org.uk for more information.