For the second time in the history of the event, the men's, women's and both reserves' races were all held on the Tideway on the same day.

In the men's reserve race, Cambridge's Goldie were beaten by Oxford's Isis, their seventh consecutive defeat.

The Oxford men's boat won their race after leading from the start, their fourth victory in five years and taking the overall record in the event to 82–80 in Cambridge's favour.

[1] First held in 1829, the race takes place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course, between Putney and Mortlake on the River Thames in south-west London.

[9] There is no monetary award for winning the race, as the journalist Roger Alton notes: "It's the last great amateur event: seven months of pain for no prize money".

To that end, Ashton Brown, President of Cambridge University Women's Boat Club (CUWBC), challenged Isabell Von Loga, her Oxford counterpart.

Winckless won a bronze medal in the women's double sculls at the 2004 Summer Olympics and umpired the men's reserve's race in 2016.

[13] Numerous broadcasters worldwide also showed the main races, including SuperSport across Africa, the EBU across Europe, Sky México across Central America, TSN in Canada and Fox Sports in Australia.

[23] In cold conditions, the women's race was overseen by Winckless, who soon warned Helen for encroachment after Heather took a slim early lead.

Helen took the lead around Fulham before Heather accelerated away at the Mile Post, and were two lengths ahead by St Paul's boathouse.

Both crews were warned for encroachment before Hallam extended their lead to two lengths by the time the boats passed below Barnes Bridge.

[23] The Cambridge men's trial boats were named One T and Two G's in honour of their coach Donald Legget who had served the club for fifty years.

[25] OUWBC faced a crew from Oxford Brookes University Boat Club (OBUBC) in two races along the Championship Course on 19 February.

The second race, from Hammersmith to Barnes Bridge followed a similar pattern with OBUBC taking an early lead, and OUWBC pushing through for the win.

OUWBC were back on level terms by the Mile Post and in calmer conditions, pushed away from Molesey to be a length up by Harrods.

[30] The first race was from Putney Bridge to Chiswick Eyot; OBUBC took an early lead before Cambridge led at Hammersmith.

The second race, from Chiswick Eyot to the University Post, was a one-sided affair with OBUBC leading from the start and gradually pulling away to win by two lengths.

The first race saw the Italians make the better start, and despite steering off-course, they maintained their lead in rough weather under Hammersmith Bridge.

A close start saw both crews level after a minute, but the Light Blues pulled away after Barnes Bridge, and won by four lengths.

[34] The official weigh-in for the crews took place at the Francis Crick Institute on 14 March 2017,[35] presented by BBC sports reporter Andrew Cotter.

[39] Holly Hill and Myriam Goudet also had Boat Race experience for CUWBC, while no Blues returned for OUWBC.

[37] Oxford's bow man, William Warr, became the third individual to row in the Boat Race for both universities, having competed for the Light Blues in the 2015 event.

[37] The day before the races were scheduled to take place, an unexploded Second World War bomb was discovered near Putney Bridge.

[45] In the women's reserve race, Osiris won the toss and selected the Surrey side of the river, handing the Middlesex station to Blondie.

Passing below the bridge, Oxford held a clear water advantage and moved across in front of Goldie, and were two lengths ahead by Chiswick Steps.

Making a final push, Isis passed the finish line two and a half lengths ahead, in a time of 17 minutes, 17 seconds.

[49] Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Oxford.

OUBC pushed away on the approach to Hammersmith Bridge and held a clear water advantage soon after, moving across to row directly in front of Cambridge.