On a short stretch of river deemed too narrow or too winding for conventional side-by-side regattas, this 4-day event is truly an extravaganza not to be missed. Having fun and getting wet is non-negotiable.
Traditionally a the end of Easter Term, boats representing their colleges line up one after another. The races are organised into divisions containing 17 crews comprising men's and women's crews. The races take place in 2 events, the Lent Bumps and the May Bumps.
"Each crew starts the race separated by about one and a half boat lengths or approximately 30 meters. As a (literal) cannon goes off, they race with the objective to "bump" the crew ahead. The "bump" happens when boats physically touch or overtake, with the losing crew dropping out of the race. The winning team then switches places with the losing team in the starting order on the next day allowing boats to move up or down the ranks across multiple days. The ultimate aim is to finish at the top of the first division, known as being "Head of the River".
- Jakub Lastowiecki, Cohort 5
