As the closest thing to a dress rehearsal that The Boat Race crews are afforded across the entire course from Putney to Mortlake, trial eights are a critical piece of preparation to finish the 2024 season. The last of Monday’s racing consisted of the Cambridge men’s squad crews, split by Rob Baker into two crews: Scylla and Charybdis, named for two sea monsters of Greek mythology. Following the toss, Scylla had the choice of station, opting for the Surrey bank with the advantage through the middle of the race.
A late substitution led to a reshuffling on the morning of the race. Returning blue Tom Marsh moved across from Charybdis to Scylla following Simon Hatcher‘s withdrawal due to illness. Will Wauchope from last year’s third eight got the late call to race. The seat switching in Scylla resulted in the stern pair from last year’s blue boat reuniting, as President Luca Ferraro sat in the seven seat behind Matt Edge.
Off the start, the water was far rougher than for the women’s race earlier in the day, and the two crews quickly came towards each other, but the high rate in Scylla allowed them to establish an early advantage.
Throughout the race, coxswains James Trotman and Ollie Boyne kept umpire Sarah Winkless active as Trotman forced both crews wide through the Fulham flats, gaining some advantage for his Charybdis crew to the advantage.
Despite this, a consistently high rate from the Scylla crew allowed them to maintain a lead at the milepost, putting them in prime position from the upcoming Surrey bend.
Boyne called a strong move, and they were out to three-quarters of a length at Hammersmith Bridge, an advantage that only expanded throughout the corner, having open water as they passed St Paul’s School in the roughest water of the race, with the four returning blues using their experience on the Tideway to overcome the Douwe de Graaf-stroked crew as they passed his alma mater.
The gap expanded as the Surrey bend unwound, with the bragging rights all but secured for the crew on the Surrey station, but a strong row from Charybdis kept it close enough for Sarah Winkless to warn Ollie Boyne back to his station on the final bend, with the margin of victory for Scylla across the line measured at two lengths, upsetting the prediction from commentator Martin Cross from the start of the race.
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