Race 1 Putney to Hammersmith
The race started at the end of the moored boats in Putney on the incoming tide.
Magnum showed their experience in the choppy water to pull out a length lead.
Once Blue Steel found their feet they showed greater power to start to reduce the deficit while rating 32 to Magnum's 34.
By the mile post the gap between bow and stern was down to a few feet with Max's (cox of Magnum) over exuberant crossing off leaving a gap for Blue Steel.
Unfortunately there wasn’t enough left in the tank and after a last ditch effort Blue Steel fell back to lose by 2 lengths at Hammersmith bride.
Race 2 Chiswick Eyot to Barnes Bridge
A fired up Blue Steel gave noting away at the beginning of the next piece.
The lower rate hurt them and moved from a half a length up to half a length down by the crossover point at Chiswick steps.
But once again the strong base speed kept them in the race.
Some poor judgement on the line proved to be decisive and Magnum took a strong lead with the bend turning to their advantage.
However the Blue Steel found some speed after a clash and the race hung in the balance until the bend proved to be too much to overcome and Magnum won by half a length of open water.
Race 3 Boat Race Finish Line to the Boathouse
Blue Steel were given half a length advantage nullify the bend being in Magnums favour.
This seemed to make little difference as Blue Steel seemed to be on a conveyer belt and the half a length had turned into a canvas deficit.
Luckily some words of encouragement (Pull harder) seemed to inject some life and it was a classic blood and guts battle to the line, including clashing, shouting and even some good rowing.
Magnum took it on the line by a canvas.
This racing is invaluable to the guys and has moved them on towards the head season hopefully putting us far in front of where we were this time last year.
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