RED TOP, Conn., June 7--This year's varsity eight, the best crew in Harvard history, is a clear favorite to end Yale's five-year winning streak in the four-mile row on the Thames River near New London this Saturday. Indeed the Crimson could sweep the river for the first time since 1951 with victories in the varsity, J.V, and freshman races.

Any doubt as to the quality of this year's crew was dispelled last week when the varsity broke the downstream record in both its two time trials. On Wednesday it covered the four-mile distance in 18:50, and Sunday it clocked 19:16 under slightly slower, but still excellent, conditions. Downstream record for a race is 19:21:4, set by the 1948 Harvard crew while the previous time trial record, also set that year, was 19:05.

This year's running of the oldest intercollegiate contest in the country, now 108 years old, puts special pressure on the Crimson boat since a Yale victory would tie the series which now stands 47-46 in the Crimson's favor. The last tie occurred in 1940 when the Crimson evened the series at 39 victories each.

Crimson is Favored

Although the varsity is favored on the basis of its record-breaking performances this year--it also holds the Charles River mark of 8:45 flat--the Elis have their normally strong crew. Undefeated before the EARC sprints where they finished third to the Crimson and Syracuse, Coach Jim Rathschmidt's men are playing themselves down but would like nothing better than to beat the Henley bound varsity.

The varsity race will start at 7:15, the three-mile J.V. race at 6:30, and the two-mile freshman race at 5:45 on Saturday. The combination boat race is run on Friday. Once again the N.Y., N.H. & H. observation train will followed the races, leaving New London at 5 p.m.

There will be one other race on the Thames this year as the Crimson and Elicoxswains each man four-oared shells for a half-mile race on Wednesday.

To an even greater extent than in any other sport, the outcome of the traditional Yale race determines the success of the crew season. Capture of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in July would be the supreme achievement in rowing but before that there is a large debt to be paid back against the Elis on the Thames of Connecticut the second Saturday in June. And the Crimson has the crew to do it.