Having matriculated in 2020, Cambridge University Boat Club president Luca Ferraro was part of the Covid-19 generation of Blue Boats, an experience which shaped the rest of his Light Blue journey.

Ferraro learned to row sculling at Lea Rowing Club, before making the switch to sweep under the watchful eye of Chief Men’s Coach Rob Baker in 2020. He raced in the spare pair in 2021, followed by three successive Blue Boats, losing in 2022 and then winning in 2023 and 2024.

Five years on, the crew of 2021 has left a big impact on Ferraro and fired up his commitment to CUBC.

“The team in 2021 was really special. As the youngest person in the squad I looked up to everyone there and the way they dealt with Covid. The way that crew springboarded out of it instead of letting it be a setback was pretty inspiring and the result that year speaks for itself.

“I think it’s still the biggest upset in recent memory. It was a massive underdog victory and that year set the tone for the way I wanted to go about my time here and the ethos that I want to embody. I still look up to all the guys that year.

“2021 was very unique, there were no star players or “it” guys. I think that has been one of our strengths over the last couple of years.

“We’re not focussed on the biggest rowing CVs, but what people have to offer as athletes is phenomenal and CUBC is brilliant at bringing it out of them.”

Ferraro has been ushered in as President off the back of two incredibly successful years for Cambridge and whilst there is pressure on his shoulders to make it a hat-trick, he’s excited by this year’s squad.

“Last year, my biggest takeaway was to realise that for a lot of people their potential runs a lot deeper than what they think it is.

“Looking at where we all started to where we were by the finish line of the 2024 Boat Race, we took massive strides on and off the water.

“No matter who you are there is always more to find, as President I want to help people find it.

“I try to lead by example, I like to think I do but I’m by no means the best athlete in the squad, yet that’s not a bad place to be as President.

“The job of President is an interesting one, I think it’s not actually a set role. There have been 180 plus Presidents and each one would have done the job differently. You have to tailor it to what you offer or what the squad needs.

“I like to think that because of who I am and what I’ve done through the club, I will make a good President. This is my fifth year now and I’ve seen pretty much every level of the squad. I’ve been at the bottom, I’ve been on the wrong and right side of selection battles. I would like to think that I can pretty much relate to everyone.

“We’ve had some fantastic guys come in this year and the standard just gets pushed each session, so it’s an exciting year to be President.”