Each year two teams of eight extremely fit athletes compete in the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race on the River Thames in London. Traditional (Olympic) rowing eight races take place over 2000 metres on a straight course with no flowing water or tides. The Boat Race takes place over 4.5 miles on a twisting tidal and sometimes fast flowing river. Speculation as to which team will win the race typically rides on an analysis of the abilities of the individual oarsmen. They are compared like heavy-weight fighters—how big they are, how much they weigh, how much strength and endurance they have, how many years of experience.

Often overlooked in the analysis of the individual participants is the simple fact that the two sides are fundamentally equal in ability. Yet, sometimes the race is a rout; once it was a dead heat. Six times, when the tide and current produced a choppy surface, a boat was swamped and did not finish the race. Any outcome is possible on the day. What distinguishes success in The Boat Race, then, is something less tangible than height, weight, and years of experience. What distinguishes success are three things:

1. The strategy chosen for the race
2. The judgment of the Cox in adjusting to the elements on the course
3. The ability of the oarsmen to row as a team over a winding, arduous course