Welcome to The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2025

Welcome to The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2025.

Boat Race Day is always special, but 13 April 2025 is a significant one for all connected with our great event as we welcome our new Title Sponsor, and Official Timing Partner, CHANEL and the race officially becomes The CHANEL J12 Boat Race. To have the long-term support of one of the world’s great luxury brands demonstrates that our unique blend of British heritage, sport and culture remains vibrant and widely appealing.

There are many reasons why people tune in to the BBC’s superb coverage or join us on the banks of the River Thames on race day in their hundreds of thousands. The tradition, mystique and timelessness of Britain’s oldest major sporting event has a place in our national psyche, even in a changing world. And around the globe, the clash between two iconic institutions, Oxford and Cambridge, racing down the main artery of Britain’s global city, remains a draw.

“The tradition, mystique and timelessness of Britain’s oldest major sporting event has a place in our national psyche.”

The Boat Race 2025 marks ten years since the Women’s Boat Race moved from Henley to The Championship Course. The Boat Race pioneered the development of women’s sport as early as 1927 when the first Women’s Boat Race was staged. The first race even predated the 1928 Equal Franchise Act which granted equal voting rights to women and men, and this year, Sarah Winckless MBE, becomes the first woman to umpire the Men’s Boat Race on The Championship Course. The Boat Race’s heritage in the development of women’s sport was part of the appeal of the event for CHANEL. Over one hundred years ago Gabrielle Chanel began her business, and her extraordinary exploits created the iconic brand we know today. As we approach the centenary of the Women’s Boat Race in 2027, we have the perfect partner with which to collaborate and celebrate.

Celebration of excellence
For our student athletes, The Boat Race is the culmination of months of arduous training and racing combined with rigorous full-time academic study. Rowing an eightoared boat in perfect synchronicity requires dedication to excellence and commitment to the team. Race day itself distils all that effort and sacrifice down to a moment in time, so the crews deserve our fullthroated support.

The Boat Race is unique in giving rowing newcomers the opportunity to train and race with Olympic champions. This year, Oxford’s Alexia Lowe, who learnt to row at her college, finds herself shoulder to shoulder with Paris 2024 Olympic medallist Heidi Long.

No fewer than twenty-two Boat Race alumni raced at the Paris Olympics. For some The Boat Race is a springboard towards international honours, whilst for others it marks the pinnacle of their rowing careers.

London’s party by the Thames
Race day’s rowing begins at 10.00, with traditional crafts rowing between Putney and Mortlake. This year, Wandsworth has been named London Borough of Culture 2025, and there will be an event to mark the occasion on the embankment at Putney.

Before the Women’s Boat Race begins at 13.21 sharp, spectators can take their places at one of two official Boat Race fan zones, where admission is free. These are at Bishops Park and Fulham Pier in Fulham, and Furnivall Gardens in Hammersmith.

Thanks to our Partners
As well as CHANEL, I would like to thank BBC Sport, T. Rowe Price, Graduate by Hilton Hotels, Chapel Down, Le Chameau, JL Racing and our Charity Partner, the British Heart Foundation. And a special thanks to the London boroughs who host the race and our many volunteers. We congratulate the Club Presidents Annie Anezakis, Tom Mackintosh, Lucy Havard and Luca Ferraro for preparing their squads, and coaches Rob Baker, Paddy Ryan, Allan French and Mark Fangen-Hall.

We all wish for exciting racing in the best spirit of The Boat Race.

May the crews have their best race, and I wish everyone a fun day. 

Siobhan Cassidy Chair, The Boat Race Company