The 149th Boat Race was the best Boat Race I have ever seen, and I have seen more than 40. In trying to sum up why this race was so special, several reasons occurred to me.The fact that Oxford ended up winning was good for Concept 2 because they used our racing oars while Cambridge preferred to use a copy. This means that we can use this in future publicity and make outrageous claims like the difference was all down to our oars. Even so it would be extravagant to claim that this change was a significant factor but that won't stop us, truth should never interfere with a good advert. However the change could be symptomatic of a bigger problem. For years Cambridge have enjoyed the reputation of having a world-class programme. There was even talk of the Cambridge technique and how this was the way everyone should row while Oxford were portrayed as a bunch of gutsy tryers with no class. But today, rowing at Cambridge is in crisis.This may sound like an exaggeration considering they lost their bowman in a freak accident two days before the race and only lost by a foot, but never before in the 149 year history of the race has such an enormous advantage in height and weight that Cambridge had over Oxford been overturned. In addition Cambridge had the advantage of the long Surrey bend and still managed to lose a race that they should have won by several lengths. Cambridge have lost three of the last four races and in all of them they started favourite. The one they did win was the infamous restart, which should never have been given, and denied Oxford a possible victory and a run of four in a row. At this point I think I should point out that all my life I have been a Cambridge supporter and that I am trying to be objective.In the race, the difference between the two crews was stark. The bigger more powerful Cambridge looked like carthorses racing against thoroughbreds in the Oxford boat. What should have been a relaxed easy rhythm in the Cambridge boat became a plod and when the situation called for a killer spring they were found wanting.Oxford were superb and all credit must go to the crew and coaching team. It is clear that it is Oxford who have the best system and people should begin looking at the Oxford technique to aspire to. In a way this could help Cambridge. By being cast in the role of underdog they will attract athletes that want to work hard to turn this around. A successful club attracts people who want to jump onto the bandwagon in the misguided belief that success can rub off onto them. The fact is that success is won by the hard work and dedication of the individual members. Each race is a one off, won on the day by the men in the boat. A victory is no guarantee of future success.In the long history of the Boat Race it is quite common for one club to put together a run of victories. If Cambridge are going to turn things around then they will have to look closely at their coaching. This year there was no question they had the better squad but they failed to build a better crew.