Crowds flocked into Putney on Saturday to drink in the sunshine and cheer on the start of the Boat Race 2007.

Spectators thronged the banks of the Thames and lined Putney Bridge as drinkers spilled out from pubs to get the best spots by the water to see the Oxford and Cambridge teams set off.

The universities' traditional Easter rowing match was won by Cambridge, reversing the fortunes of the last two years when Oxford has triumphed.

Putney is also hosting a music festival and afternoon revellers filled the grounds of St Mary's Church, with barbecues and food stalls vying for trade on a warm Easter day.

Richard Pattison, 36, and Susan Kaap, 34, had come from north London for the occasion. "The Boat Race is just a good day out, with a great atmosphere. We have friends nearby so we often come down for it," said Mr Pattison.

Barbara May was selling scarves and rosettes for Oxford or Cambridge supporters, as she has for the last three years. Before the race, she had sold more Oxford merchandise, but did not tip either team to win.

"You can never tell. Someone asked me which team would win, I said the one which crosses the finish line first," she said.

Near to the start line to the west of Putney Bridge, Henry Smith, 22, from Wandsworth, was having a pint in the street with friends.

He said: "My sister is at Oxford so I will probably support them. But it is really just a good day out, I won't make a huge effort to see the race."

On Putney Bridge, a group of Croatian men dressed in Oxford University Boat Club gear were waiting for the race to begin. Their friend Ante Kusurin is a strokesman for Oxford, and they had come from Croatia to support him.

"He is in all the newspapers in Croatia, he is quite a celebrity," said Andrisa Bilic.

"We used to row with him when we were about 15 and we used to watch the Boat Race on TV. Being here is amazing."

A flotilla of speedboats got into position behind the two rowing boats, which had positioned themselves into the centre of the Thames, light and dark blue rowing blades on the water surface.

As the red starting flag was waved, the boats set off into the distance, leaving cheering crowds and speedboat swell behind.