This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/apr/02/oxford-womens-boat-race-sinking-thames
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Oxford women’s Boat Race team require RNLI rescue after sinking on Thames | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Oxford women’s Boat Race crew were rescued from the Thames on Thursday after being overcome by rough water. | The Oxford women’s Boat Race crew were rescued from the Thames on Thursday after being overcome by rough water. |
| After the eight rowers and their cox had been taken by lifeboat to Putney, their sunken boat was recovered and returned to the crew’s base. They later tweeted: “Glad to say all athletes well and ready to go.” | After the eight rowers and their cox had been taken by lifeboat to Putney, their sunken boat was recovered and returned to the crew’s base. They later tweeted: “Glad to say all athletes well and ready to go.” |
| Oxford had been training for the Boat Race, which – along with the men’s race – takes place on 11 April, when they got into trouble. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Chiswick station responded and reported a strong wind against the tide had created three successive waves that poured over the boat’s riggers, “creating an influx of water that could not be managed by the craft’s bilge pump”. | Oxford had been training for the Boat Race, which – along with the men’s race – takes place on 11 April, when they got into trouble. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Chiswick station responded and reported a strong wind against the tide had created three successive waves that poured over the boat’s riggers, “creating an influx of water that could not be managed by the craft’s bilge pump”. |
| Related: Cambridge have heavier crew than Oxford for 2015 Boat Race | Related: Cambridge have heavier crew than Oxford for 2015 Boat Race |
| The RNLI helmsman Ian Owen said: “While we have rescued quite a number of rowers over the years, this is the first time I’ve been involved in helping such a prestigious team. The weather can be unpredictable on the Thames, and the Oxford University team dealt with the situation as safely and calmly as possible. We wish them all the best for their upcoming race.” | The RNLI helmsman Ian Owen said: “While we have rescued quite a number of rowers over the years, this is the first time I’ve been involved in helping such a prestigious team. The weather can be unpredictable on the Thames, and the Oxford University team dealt with the situation as safely and calmly as possible. We wish them all the best for their upcoming race.” |
| The Chiswick RNLI, a charitable organisation made up of volunteers who police the river on race days, were passing along the river when they noticed the Oxford boat was in difficulties. | The Chiswick RNLI, a charitable organisation made up of volunteers who police the river on race days, were passing along the river when they noticed the Oxford boat was in difficulties. |
| Their most high-profile rescue was in 2012 when they pulled the protester Trenton Oldfield from the water after he leapt into the path of racers to publicise what he described as “elitism and the inequality that arises out of elitism”. | Their most high-profile rescue was in 2012 when they pulled the protester Trenton Oldfield from the water after he leapt into the path of racers to publicise what he described as “elitism and the inequality that arises out of elitism”. |
| This year will see the men’s and women’s crews compete on the same day and course for the first time in the event’s 90-year history, racing along the Thames from Putney to Mortlake. | This year will see the men’s and women’s crews compete on the same day and course for the first time in the event’s 90-year history, racing along the Thames from Putney to Mortlake. |
| The RNLI Alternative Boat Race fundraising event on 10 April takes place the day before the BNY Mellon Boat Race on the same stretch of river. For more information, visit: RNLI.org/BoatRace |