Shoreside assistance

Being new to the race, can anybody give me some advice on shoreside support? We've a got support team who are keen and willing to come, but would like reassurance that they won't be wasting their time. To what extent is shore support invaluable/ desirable/unimportant? Are there many people following the race - and do they generally camp along the way? I'd be interested to hear from people who have followed and supported the race to find out if it was a fun camping/roadtrip with a purpose - or just a very long way to travel for the privilege of putting up a tent for an unappreciative, overtired brother!

	redholme wrote:
	or just a very long way to travel for the privilege of putting up a tent for an unappreciative, overtired brother!

I'd say that is more like it. The support crew can assist only in Carmacks during the 7-hour layover. They should get there before you do and put up camp. There is a lot of work involved while you are resting, including cleaning the boat, re stocking it and wash/drying clothes. Last year, my wife didn't sleep the whole time I was in Carmacks.

That said, most crew people will tell you the Yukon, its people and the YRQ experience is worth the travel even when you don't race.

Good luck!

Actually being the support person on the race can be a lot of fun. I’ve been part of the support crew for one of the voyageur teams for many years now and every race has been fun and very tiring.
Things to do to make it a good experience;
1. Show up for the pre-race check in and meetings and the get together the day before the race.
2. Everyone one needs a bit of extra help down on the launching site before the start of the race, so be ready to help not just your crew but others.
3. Once the racers are off get in your vehicle and drive too just past the Tahkni River Bridge and watch the teams paddle by.
4. After that take a leisurely drive to the Carmacks checkpoint/stop and if you are tenting find a good site.
5. The racers will start arriving in Carmacks early the next day and if you want to help at the landing site, volunteers are always needed, put have a lifejacket with you if you are going to be helping on the dock. Carmacks checkpoint is crowded during the day so getting things ready for your race can be a bit of an organizing nightmare. Lots of people from all over the world here so its interesting wandering around talking to people if you like doing that sort of thing. It can be very hot or very wet and cold in Carmacks so come prepared with adequate clothing.
6. Once your team leaves, you can break camp and easily be at Five Finger rapids in time to see them come through and if you still have the energy to drive to Minto landing you can watch them go by there as well. Minto landing is the last place until Dawson that you will be able to see the teams past by. If you have made it this, far you are probably dead tired and I would suggest sleeping here and then taking a leisurely drive to Dawson the next day were you could then catch some more sleep.
7. In Dawson, you wait and check times at the finish line, but you can also be down at the landing area helping teams get their boats and gear out of the water.
8. Once your team arrives, they will need your help so you will be very busy taking care of them.

It is all a matter of what you want to make of the experience, but if you do it, right you are as much of the race as the racers themselves. By the way it’s a balmy -29c here in the Yukon where I live.