Rachel Quarrell. "The more things change, the more they stay the same" is the story of this year's Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Races. Â The 192-year-old event gets its biggest makeover in a century and a half today, moving off the changeable tidal Thames to the calmer waters of the Great Ouse at Ely, but the pain, sweat, tears and ecstasy of those taking part this afternoon will feel the same as in every previous year, regardless of surroundings. Â Visually it's a complete switch, from a 6779-metre curving course hemmed in by west London's buildings on an unpredictable tidal river to an arrow-straight virtually featureless 4890-metre waterway which has more in common with a docile canal. Â The only observers will be the local wildlife: Â under COVID restrictions Ely's 2021 Boat Race course is a resolutely spectator-free zone. Â The quarter of a million who usually flock to the banks of the Thames have been encouraged to "stay safe, stay away" and watch on TV.