22nd Yukon River Quest
(NOTE: The race was cancelled due to Yukon River flooding conditions on June 22, the day before the scheduled start; watch for updates about whether there will be a race a little later in the summer)
This schedule is based on our approved COVID plan and is subject to change. (updated June 17, 2021)
Statement on the current COVID situation in the Yukon as it relates to the upcoming race: “The YRQ is aware that the Yukon has an uprising of COVID cases and some have expressed concerns about the upcoming race. We value these concerns and our strong relationships in the Yukon. As such, we brought these concerns to the Chief Medical Officer of Health and his team for review of the event and our COVID plan. At this time, the YRQ is still supported as it is a LOW RISK event and we have an adequate plan in place. To reemphasize an aspect of our plan which is the importance being able to adapt to changing situations – we ask that paddlers and their support be respectful of locals while in Carmacks, Minto and Dawson, keeping the safe six, and avoiding congregating in areas such as a local stores or places where there is lots of foot traffic, etc. We are also going to cancel our outdoor awards ceremony in Dawson on Sunday, June 27, and ask our paddlers and their support to leave Dawson after completion of their race as soon as possible (after they have rested and are safe to do so). Thank you and stay safe everyone.” – YRMPA Board
Important Pre-Race Reminder Dates
February 14, 2021 – Registration opened for Yukon and other Canadian teams that can meet COVID travel requirements.
End of March – The Team List starts to be realistic: by this point teams will know if they can travel to the Yukon for the race or not.
April 1, 2021 – You will be nagged about tracking if you have not yet successfully sent us a track message
Mid April – after this time the special Covid refund rate of 85% ceases to be available
May 26, 2021 – Last day to withdraw from the race and receive a refund (4 weeks from start).
June 1, 2021 – Last day to be entered in the race.
June 5, 2021 – You will be nagged quite emphatically about tracking if you have not yet successfully sent us a track message.
Mandatory Racer & Support Crew Briefing Schedule June 15 & 17 (via Zoom)
Attendance at one of these 3 meetings is Mandatory for All Paddlers and 1 Support Crew Member (we prefer that the entire team bubble watch at the same time). There will be 3 opportunities to attend via Zoom – Teams will be emailed Zoom invites.
Tuesday June 15 – 6 PM and 7:30 PM PDT
Thursday June 17 – 7:30 PM PDT (UPDATED)
Race Week Schedule
Saturday June 19 – Monday June 21
10 AM to 2 PM behind Yukon Visitor Centre
Final Registration
Rescue and Boat Rental Deposits
Boat Measuring and Gear Inspection
IT IS MANDATORY for team members to attend the FINAL REGISTRATION to receive RACER PACKAGES, BIBS, and BOAT DECALS. There will be PRE-RACE BOAT INSPECTIONS, and you will need to declare your INTENDED STOP TIMES at Carmacks and Minto. Final Registration will be available these three days from 10 am to 2 pm. ALL participants must bring documentation to prove they have adequate medical insurance for a medical evacuation. This includes local racers who must bring their Health Care Cards. If registration is busy when you show up, there may be an informal booking system established.
You will be able to “pay” the required rescue deposit and for those renting a boat from us the damage deposit. “Paying” means we will put a hold for the deposit on your credit card that will be released or captured immediately after the race. The links to “Pay” will appear on the Registration Page and Boat Rentals Page. These pages are designed to work reasonably on smart phones. Doing this early saves time and aggravation at registration.
NOTE: the usual required meetings after Final Registration for teams/support have been moved to the week before the race (see schedule above for Zoom times).
Saturday, June 19 – Training run
Afternoon – Yukon River training run : Whitehorse-Burma (30 kms.)
Put-in next to Kanoe People at 1st and Strickland. Sorry, due to COVID, you will need to do your own shuttle this year. Sponsored by Kanoe People.
Sunday, June 20 – Training run
Afternoon – Yukon River training run : Whitehorse-Takhini (20 kms.)
Sorry, due to COVIC, you will need to do your own shuttle this year. Sponsored by Up North Adventures.
Monday, June 21 – Final training run
Afternoon – Yukon River training run : Whitehorse-Takhini (20 kms.)
Put-in next to Kanoe People at 1st and Strickland. Sorry, due to COVID, you will need to do your own shuttle this year. Sponsored by Kanoe People.
NO MONDAY MEET & GREET THIS YEAR
Tuesday, June 22
All teams in race must be registered by Noon (see above)
Race Day Start Schedule
Wednesday, June 23
8:30-10:30 am – Positioning of boats & final inspections at Rotary Park.
IMPORTANT –Volunteers will be coordinating vehicle access to avoid congestion. Voyageurs and C4 canoes will be launched by number and moved to their starting locations on the river beginning at 8:30 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.Teams need their support crews available to carry their boats to start position. After boat/gear are in starting place and vehicle is moved, then there will be a final inspection with paddlers.
Voyageurs and C4 canoes (by number):
8:30-9:00 am
Single and double canoes/kayaks and SUPs (by number):
#1-25 9:30-10:00 am
#26-48 10-10:30 am
WHITEHORSE START EVENTS
STAY MASKED & DISTANCED!
11:30 am – Teams Line Up for Start
Teams will be socially distanced and arranged by starting time under YRQ banner on the waterfront and up the road at 11:30 a.m. There will be no speeches or introductions this year. Hosted by City of Whitehorse Parks Dept.
12:00 (12 Noon) – Start of 2021 Yukon River Quest & Half Quest
Listen for countdown and horn to start race!
Teams will be released by number every 15 seconds starting at 1200. Each team may have 1 support person standing by their boat to assist with the launch. Great views of teams starting on river downtown, and further downriver at the end of Burma Road (recommended) and at Policeman’s Point checkpoint (high-clearance 4WD vehicles only on Policeman’s Point Rd).
CP1, Lake CP2, & Carmacks CP3, and Minto Resort CP4 Checkpoint Schedule
We ask that paddlers and their support be respectful of locals while in Carmacks, Minto and Dawson, keeping the safe six, and avoiding congregating in areas such as a local stores or places where there is lots of foot traffic, etc.
Wednesday, June 23
16:00 (4 PM) – Policeman’s Point CP1 Cutoff Time
Teams must reach CP 1 Policeman’s Point within 4 hours of starting (16:00 – 4 PM Wednesday) to remain in the race. A team failing to meet this requirement will be withdrawn by race officials. The team may continue on as a withdrawn team with the Race Marshal’s consent (see Rule 29). There will be transport available at Policeman’s Point to Whitehorse or Carmacks.
Afternoon-Evening – Carmacks CP3 Set-up
Race volunteers and support crews will gather at host Coal Mine Campground in Carmacks to get ready for racers the next day. The checkpoint is about 2K past the bridge, on the right just before the Campbell Hwy. intersection. Arrive early to ensure camping spot and please pay attention to parking instructions. Support crews must stay in their bubble.
Thursday, June 24
01:00 (1 AM) – CP2 Cutoff Time – All teams off Lake Laberge
Teams must be by CP2 Lower Lake Laberge at 01:00 to remain in the race. Follow their progress on our Race Tracker as they enter the Thirymile section and paddle through the night past Big Salmon and on to Little Salmon and Carmacks.
06:00 (6 AM) – Carmacks Checkpoint CP3 opens at Coal Mine Campground
CP 3-Carmacks is located at Coal Mine Campground about 2K past the bridge (for drivers), on the right just before the Campbell Hwy. intersection. Teams usually start arriving around 07:00 straight through until 22:00 (cutoff time for remaining in race).
This is one of the two layover stops on the race. The rest taken by teams at Carmacks and Minto Resort must be add up to at least 10 hours. Teams MUST STOP at Carmacks (and at Minto) but may choose to divide their rest time between Carmacks and Minto as they see fit. However, teams arriving after 16:00 on Thursday at Carmacks must stop for at least 3 hours. Teams are expected to advise the race before the start what their anticipated stop time in Carmacks will be. This is only advisory. They can change their mind at Carmacks with no penalty. Please advise us in Carmacks of changes in your plan. In Carmacks an anticipated-out time label will be attached to your boat based on this advise.
At Carmacks, teams will may be given full assistance by their support crew. Support crews must stay in their own bubble and are the only ones allowed to handle their team’s boats. Life jackets required on dock (bring your own). Wrist bands will be issued to those allowed in staging area.
Congested area – please pay attention to parking information.
22:00 (10 PM) – Carmacks Checkpoint CP3 Cutoff time
A team failing to meet this requirement will be withdrawn by race officials. After signing in, teams will be given a time when they are allowed to leave the checkpoint. Any team that has not left Carmacks checkpoint within 41 hours of start (05:00 Friday), will be deemed to have abandoned the race. If a team has scratched and has not notified the CP Coordinator by the time the CP closes, a penalty of $100.00 will be levied. In the event that adverse weather conditions on the lake or river cause a stoppage or delay in the race, these required times may be altered at the discretion of the Race Marshal.
Half Quest Finishers
All HALF QUEST FINISHERS (after crossing the time line) will take out at the Coal Mine Campground dock.
10:00 (10 am)– Minto Resort Checkpoint CP4 Opens
CP 4 is located at Minto Resort about 74 kilometres/46 miles (for drivers) from Carmacks. Turn left at Minto Resort sign just past the KM 428 post. This check point on river right is at the last road access point before Dawson City. All teams MUST STOP at Minto. Teams who have not stopped for at least 10 hours at Carmacks are required to stop here for the remainder of their required 10 hour rest. A label will be attached to their boat with the earliest time they are allowed to leave. The rest time at Carmacks that will be subtracted from the 10 hours required rest is the actual time spent in Carmacks not any advisory time that you may have given the race.
Support crews must stay in their own bubble and are the only ones allowed to handle their team’s boats.Life jackets required on dock (bring your own). Wrist bands will be issued to those allowed in staging area.
Congested area – please pay attention to parking information.
Friday, June 25
05:00 (5 AM) – Carmacks Checkpoint CP3 Closes
All teams in the race must depart by this time. CP 3 will break down earlier if last team has left.
16:00 (4 PM) – Minto Resort Checkpoint CP4 Closes
All teams in the race must depart by this time. CP 4 will break down earlier if last team has left.
On the River – Track your teams through remote checkpoints
Watch for times on our Race Tracker as teams pass Fort Selkirk, Thistle Creek, and Sixty Mile.
Dawson City Finish Line Schedule
We ask that paddlers and their support be respectful of locals while in Carmacks, Minto and Dawson, keeping the safe six, and avoiding congregating in areas such as a local stores or places where there is lots of foot traffic, etc.
Friday, June 25
12:00 (12 noon) – Dawson City Finish Line Checkpoint Opens
The Dawson City Finish Line Checkpoint is located on Yukon River dike between gazebo and historic CIBC bank building. First teams have arrived as early as 1400 (2 pm) in fast water years or into the evening in slow water years. After teams finish, they will be directed to docking area downstream on the right.
We ask our paddlers and their support to leave Dawson after completion of their race as soon as possible (after they have rested and are safe to do so). There will be no awards ceremony this year (see below).
Saturday, June 26
All day – Welcome teams!
Remember to stay masked and distanced as you applaud teams as they finish on the waterfront – they earned it, all 715 kms!
21:00 (9 PM or sooner) – Dawson City Checkpoint Closes
Cut-off time for official finish is 21:00. Checkpoint will shut down at this hour or earlier if final team has arrived. Race officials will not be responsible for monitoring the progress of teams on the river after this time. Teams that finish after this time will be provided a sign-in location in Dawson City and will be recognized as official finishers
Sunday, June 27
CANCELLED – Awards Dawson City
There will be no banquet or awards ceremony this year. We had hoped to have an outdoor ceremony but are no longer able to do so under the updated COVID plan.
Awards will be announced in a post-race press release and prize money will be mailed to team captains.