CHISWICK'S RNLI lifeboat have said that they will be perfectly prepared for any mishaps in this year's Oxford Cambridge boat race after a catastrophic weekend on the river plopped 51 rowing enthusiasts into the Thames during the two annual Head of the River races.

Nine crew members from Strathclyde University were fished out of the river on Saturday's Junior event by the Chiswick lifeguards after sinking in rough water. The lifeguards had been alerted to the situation by the coastguard, and arrived at the scene before a rowing club safety boat - which itself had sunk on its way to assist - adding another two people to the rising damp' club.

But gale force winds and strong tides on Sunday afternoon meant that the Veterans Head of the River, which goes between Putney and Mortlake, made the previous day's rescue look like a damp squib. Crashing waves of exceptional heights overwhelmed many of the crews - one boat split in two, another sank at Barnes and a further four boats then sank at Putney.

Two RNLI lifeboats from Chiswick Pier had been scheduled to be on the water in a back-up role to the race organisers' own safety boats, but events rapidly exhausted their capabilities and the race safety officer asked for assistance from the RNLI. Safety coordination was taken over by Martin Blaker, the Helmsman of the Chiswick Lifeboat, who oversaw the recovery of 40 people from the water.

One 62-year-old rower was transferred to hospital for treatment for severe hypothermia, while 12 rowers were in a state of shock and distress and were warmed up in various rowing clubs.

David Clarke, of Chiswick Lifeboat, said: "Eights do sink regularly but when six sink at once, it's quite unusual. I think they were caught out by the weather - the river can be looking ok, and then you turn a corner and it can be crashing waves."

Asked if the weekend held bad omens for the 150th Oxford Cambridge boat race on Sunday March 28, he said: "It's still a way off. We will be looking out for harsh weather conditions. We will have had the perfect warm up if there are any problems."