Registration Day - tomorrow the race begins

"Hi Christine, 

Very pressed for time this year. Too short to prepare but c'est la vie. Will update FB later tonight. All good, scrutineering done, now at race briefing then packing , sleeping and have to be at checkin at 8.30. 

Cheers for now - more later but soon. "

Arni

 FROM FACEBOOK

Arni Urs MaderOn the way to Maine...

Scrutineering went smoothly. Just had dinner at Georgio's and now final packing and sorting for the big day tomorrow. The river is very high so only one person per boat allowed to hold it as there is hardly any beach. We have to line up at 8am! Start at 12noon. Weather forecast very hot but probably thunderstorms. The ferry trip up was breathtaking. Tom picked us up at Skagway. Such a gorgeous place. Had dinner there then drive to Whitehorse and saw our first bear hooray. Saw lots of whales, dolphins, seals, sea otters etc on the ferry trip. Just couldn't have been better. Walked the 7 1/2 m kayak on and off - big help that Penny and Evelin were there.

 

 

2013 Yukon River Quest Race Schedule

Saturday, June 1

Icebreaker Race: Marsh Lake dam toSchwatka Lake (28 km)
The annual Icebreaker Race will be held on Saturday, June 1. The Icebreaker is a 28 kilometre race from Marsh Lake dam to Schwatka Lake. Register at the Schwatka Lake parking lot beginning at 9 a.m. sharp to allow ample time to have your boat measured by the YRQ practice squad and loaded up for the shuttle. The shuttle leaves the parking lot promptly at 10 a.m. This is a good opportunity for local paddlers and new racers to meet YRQ veterans and get some tips.
Hosted by Yukon Canoe & Kayak Club and Sponsored by Up North Adventures. (SO SORRY, THIS EVENT WAS CANCELLED THIS YEAR, HOPEFULLY WILL HAPPEN NEXT YEAR)
There also are WEEKLY RACES every Thursday leading up to the race at 7 p.m. on Schwatka Lake (May) or Chadburn Lake (June). YRQ veterans will be available to offer tips before each race.

Saturday, June 22

Afternoon – Yukon River training run : Whitehorse-Burma (30 kms.)
Put-in next to Kanoe People at 1st and Strickland. Free shuttle available for registered racers at Burma Road pullout at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. to bring teams and boats back to Whitehorse.
Sponsored by Kanoe People.

Monday, June 24

Afternoon – Yukon River training run : Whitehorse-Takhini (20 kms.)
Put-in next to Kanoe People at 1st and Strickland. Free shuttle available for registered racers at Takhini River pullout at 1 and 4 p.m. to bring teams and boats back to Whitehorse.
Sponsored by Kanoe People.
6-9 p.m. – YRQ Meet & Greet welcoming reception at the MacBride Museum , 1st and Wood. Appetizers available. Free museum access, race DVD presentations.

Tuesday, June 25

11 am -2:30 p.m. – Registration, Boat Measuring and Gear Inspection on lawn behind Yukon Visitor Information Centre, 1st & Hanson. Hosted by Yukon Tourism & Culture with beverages Sponsored by Northland Beverages/Aquafina
3:00-3:45 p.m. – Mandatory pre-race briefing for All Support Crews in Yukon Visitor Information Centre theatre.
4:00-4:45 p.m. – Mandatory pre-race briefing for All Voyageur Teams in Yukon Visitor Information Centre theatre.
5:00-5:45 p.m. – Mandatory pre-race briefing for All Solo and Tandem Teams in Yukon Visitor Information Centre theatre.

Wednesday, June 26

7:30-10:30 a.m. – Positioning of boats & final inspections at Rotary Park.
IMPORTANT –Volunteers will be coordinating vehicle access to avoid congestion.
Voyageurs will be launched and moved to their starting locations on the river beginning
at 7:30 a.m. Then solo and tandem boats will be lined up by groups of numbers every
half hour in their shore launch positions per the schedule below. After boat/gear are in
place and vehicle is moved, then there will be a final inspection.
Voyageurs (by number) 7:30-8:30 am - launch in river, move to starting spot downriver.
Solo and Tandem canoes and kayaks – lined up by number on shore as directed by volunteers:
#1-25 8:30-9 am
#26-50 9-9:30 am
#51-71 9:30-10 am
11:30 a.m. – Welcome and Introduction of Teams – All teams need to be at starting line under YRQ banner in middle of Rotary Park at 11:30 a.m. Pre-start includes brief speeches by Yukon dignitaries and all teams are introduced along with their bib sponsors at the starting line. Hosted by City of Whitehorse Parks Dept.
12 Noon – Start of 2013 Yukon River Quest – Listen for the SS Klondike whistle or race horn.
Teams run from the banner to the Canada Trail and down to the launch area. Each
team may have 1 support person assisting them for the launch. Great views of teams
on river downtown, and at Takhini River, Burma Rd., and Policeman’s Pt. checkpoint.

Thursday, June 27

2:00 a.m. – Teams must be by CP3 Lower Lake Laberge to remain in the race.
6:00 a.m. – Carmacks checkpoint opens at Coal Mine Campground, about 2K past the bridge (for drivers), on the right just before the Campbell Hwy. intersection.

Friday, June 28

6:00 a.m. – Carmacks checkpoint closes. All teams in race must depart by this
time.
12 noon – Dawson City Finish Line checkpoint opens on Yukon River dike between gazebo and historic CIBC bank building. After teams finish, they will be directed to docking area downstream on the right.

Saturday, June 29

Evening – Diamond Tooth Gerties (1 drink ticket for each racer), sponsored by Klondike
Visitors Association, 4th and Queen.
11:59 p.m. (or sooner) – Dawson Checkpoint Closes. Cut-off time for official finish is 11:59 p.m. Checkpoint will shut down at midnight or earlier.

Sunday, June 30

11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Awards banquet at Robert Service School  (NEW LOCATION), 3rd & Queen. Banquet tickets added to racer packets. Extras may be purchased from YRMPA at registration. Catered by Percy De Wolfe Society and Northland Beverages.

DOWN MEMORY LANE

Yukon River Quest 2007

Lynton, Pete, Steve, Urs, Mark

Liz, Tom, Katrina, Christine, Arni

2 single kayaks Urs and Tom - 1 double kayak Pete and Steve

We all stayed in the B and B in the background in Whitehorse and the landcrew travelled in convoy in 3 cars. Great fun was had by all.