 The race started on Saturday 24 March 1877 at 8 : 27 a.m. Oxford had won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station , handing the Surrey side of the river to Cambridge . The Dark Blues took an early lead and were ahead at the Mile Post , but by the Crab Tree pub , the crews were level . Cambridge pulled ahead and held a quarter @-@ of @-@ a @-@ length lead by Hammersmith Bridge which they extended until the crews arrived at Chiswick Reach where Oxford re @-@ took the lead . At Chiswick Steps the Dark Blues were leading by half @-@ a @-@ length , and by Barnes Bridge they were clear . Experiencing strong head winds and rough water , Cowles , the Oxford bow man , suffered serious damage to his oar , nullifying further contribution to the race . Described by an Oxford undergraduate watching the race : " suddenly Oxford staggered and stood still in a mass of foam : the bow @-@ oar , Cowles , had struck the top of a big wave in feathering and broken his blade clean off . " Almost immediately , Cambridge took the advantage , but were held off by a determined Oxford crew who " spurted magnificently and drew up steadily inch by inch , so that it was a near thing as they passed the post " . 
