 Although rating slightly lower than their opposition , Oxford made the best of the bend in the river at Harrods Furniture Depository to lead by about a canvas @-@ length by the time they passed below Hammersmith Bridge . A strong headwind faced both crews as they rowed into Chiswick Reach and Cambridge struggled in the rough water in the middle of the river . Oxford , whose cox W. R. Marsh had steered towards the shelter of the Surrey shore , gained a length in half a minute , extending out to almost four lengths by Barnes Bridge . Oxford won by four @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half lengths in a time of 20 minutes 23 seconds , for their second victory in eight years . 
