Just a third of a kilogramme per oarsman separated the Cambridge and Oxford crews when they weighed in today (Thursday) for Sunday’s 152nd Boat Race, which is sponsored by Xchanging.

Cambridge University weighed in at 738.8kg (116st 4lb 12 oz) – or 92.4kg (14st 7lb 9oz) per man, while Oxford tipped the scales at 736.6kg (115st 13 lb 14 oz), averaging 92.1kg (14st 7lb) per rower.

It was a far cry from the weigh-in last year, when the giant Oxford crew tipped the scales at 786.8kg – an awesome 98.35g per rower – while the Light Blues were lighter on the scales as well as in colour, at 708kg for the crew or 88kg per man.

Oxford President Barney Williams said: "The weigh-in wasn’t good for the gamblers this year, but this year we think we might be able to make some money when we win."

Cambridge oarsman Thorsten Engelmann is the heaviest rower in Sunday’s race at 104.8kg (16st 7lb 1oz), while Oxford’s Colin Smith is lightest at 82kg (12st 12lb 12 oz).

Engelmann said: "I was expecting to be one of the heaviest. There’s only a small margin between the crews’ weights this year though, so I don’t expect it will make much difference."

Last year the powerful Oxford crew went on to win the 2005 Boat Race by six seconds or two lengths.

But this year it could be the weather, rather than the relative weights that could pose serious questions of the two crews. The two crews have already experienced choppy conditions during Tideway week and there could be more of the same at the weekend.

"We’d back ourselves in any conditions and we’re quite confident that if it does rough up, we’re ready for it," said Cambridge President Tom Edwards.

With two finely-tuned programmes producing two highly competitive crews, Sunday’s race could be too close to call.

"All the signs suggest it will be a close race. It won’t be good for my blood pressure, but I’m anticipating a great contest," said Cambridge head coach, Duncan Holland.

The 152nd Boat Race, which is sponsored by Xchanging, gets underway at 4.35pm on Sunday on the four and a quarter mile Tideway course from Putney to Mortlake.

Crew weights for Sunday’s race:

Cambridge Blue Boat

Bow Luke Walton: 83.0 kilos (13st 1lb)

2 Tom Edwards: 84.6 kilos (13st 4lbs 8oz)

3 Sebastian Thormann: 94.2 kilos (14st 11 lbs 11oz)

4 Thorsten Engelmann: 104.8 kilos (16st 7lbs 1oz)

5 Sebastian Schulte: 98.6 kilos (15st 7lbs 6oz)

6 Kieran West: 102.0 kilos (16st 0lbs 14oz)

7 Tom James: 85.8 kilos (13st 7 lbs 2oz)

Stroke Kristopher McDaniel: 85.8 kilos (13st 7 lbs 2oz)

Cox Peter Rudge: 54.8 kilos (8st 8lbs 13oz)

Oxford Blue Boat

Bow Robin Ejsmond-Frey: 91.0 kilos (14st 4lbs 10oz)

2 Colin Smith: 82.0 kilos (12st 12lbs 12oz)

3 Tom Parker: 91.2 kilos (14st 5lbs 1oz)

4 Paul Daniels: 94.4 kilos (14st 7lbs 11oz)

5 James Schroeder: 100.4 kilos (15st 11lbs 5oz)

6 Barney Williams: 92.4 kilos (14st 7lbs 11oz)

7 Jacob Wetzel: 98.6 kilos (15st 7lbs 6oz)

Stroke Bastien Ripoll: 86.6 kilos (13st 8lbs 15oz)

Cox Sebastian Pearce: 53.8 kilos (8st 6lbs 10oz)