21st annual Yukon River Quest
(2020 race schedule coming soon – will be similar)
Important Pre-Race Reminder Dates
February 14, 2019 – You will be nagged about tracking if you have not yet successfully sent us a track message
April 1, 2019 – You will be nagged about tracking if you have not yet successfully sent us a track message
May 15, 2019 – Last day to withdraw from the race with a 50% refund.
June 1, 2019 – Last day to enter the race.
June 5, 2019 – You will be nagged quite emphatically about tracking if you have not yet successfully sent us a track message.
Saturday, June 1
Ice Breaker Race: Marsh Lake dam to Schwatka Lake (28 kms)
Meet at Schwatka Lake parking lot beginning at 9:30 a.m. Up North boat and paddler shuttle leaves parking lot at 10 a.m. Race begins at approximately 11 a.m. Hosted by Flatwater Yukon and Sponsored by Up North Adventures. For more information contact info@flatwateryukon.ca or phone 867-334-8121.
Start of Race Week Schedule
Wednesday June 19 – Tuesday June 25
Rescue and Boat Rental Deposits
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.
Saturday, June 22 – Training run
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.
Sunday, June 23 – Training run
Afternoon – Yukon River training run : Whitehorse-Takhini (20 kms.)
Sign up at Up North Adventures on Strickland near river. Free shuttle available for registered racers at Takhini River pullout at 1 and 5 p.m. to bring teams and boats back to Whitehorse. Sponsored by Up North Adventures.
Monday, June 24 – Meet & Greet, final training run
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 pm – YRQ Meet & Greet
NEW LOCATION! Welcome Reception at Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre (1171 Front Street, Whitehorse) for racers and support crews. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Introduction of teams and their bib sponsors. Sponsored in part by Save On Foods.
Registration Day Schedule
Tuesday, June 25
10:00 am-2:30 pm – Registration, Boat Measuring and Gear Inspection
Mandatory for all teams! Meet at tents behind Yukon Visitor Information Centre, 1st & Hanson. Place boats on lawn. Go through final registration, get your photo taken with your signed bibs, and then have your boat and gear inspected. Return later for pre-race briefing per schedule below. Hosted by Yukon Tourism & Culture.
Mandatory Pre-Race Briefings Schedule
3:00-3:45 pm – Mandatory pre-race briefing for All Support Crews in Yukon Visitor Information Centre theatre.
4:00-4:45 pm – Mandatory pre-race briefing for All Voyageur and C4 Teams in Yukon Visitor Information Centre theatre.
5:00-5:45 pm – Mandatory pre-race briefing for All Solo and Tandem Teams in Yukon Visitor Information Centre theatre.
Race Day Start Schedule
Wednesday, June 26
7:30-10:30 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 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 starting place and vehicle is moved, then there will be a final inspection with paddlers.
Voyageurs and C4 canoes (by number): 7:30-8:30 am
Single and double canoes/kayaks and SUPs (by number):
#1-30 8:30-9 am
#31-60 9-9:30 am
#61-90 9:30-10 am
#91-125 10-10:30 am
WHITEHORSE START EVENTS
11:30 am – 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 race officials. Hosted by City of Whitehorse Parks Dept.
12:00 (12 Noon) – Start of 2019 Yukon River Quest
Wisen for countdown and horn to start race!
Teams run from the banner to the Canada Trail and down to their designated boat positions in the launch area. Each team may have 1 support person assisting them for the launch from that position. 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). Race times now on 24 hour clock.
CP1, Lake CP2, & Carmacks CP3 Checkpoint Schedule
Wednesday, June 26
16:00 (4 PM) – Policeman’s Point Cutoff Time (NEW)
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 26). There will be transport available at Policeman’s Point to Whitehorse or Carmacks.
Afternoon-Evening – Carmacks CP 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.
Thursday, June 27
01:00 (1 AM) – All teams off Lake Laberge (NEW TIME)
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 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 2200 (new cutoff time for remaining in race). Congested area – please pay attention to parking information.
22:00 (10 PM) – Carmacks Checkpoint 3 Cutoff time (NEW 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.
Friday, June 28
05:00 (5 AM) – Carmacks Checkpoint 3 Closes
All teams in the race must depart by this time. CP 3 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 CP 4 and take their 3-hour layover at Coffee Creek CP 5, hosted by GoldCorp.
Dawson City Finish Line Schedule
Friday, June 28
12:00 (12 noon) – Dawson City Finish Line Checkpoint Opens
CP 6 Finish Line 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.
Saturday, June 29
All day – Welcome teams!
Cheer on the teams as they finish on the waterfront – they earned it, all 715 kms!
Evening – Diamond Tooth Gerties
Each racer receives 1 free drink ticket to Dawson’s historic gambling hall (admission fee) with 3 shows nightly by the legendary Gertie and crew, located at 4th & Queen. Sponsored by Klondike Visitors Association.
21:00 (9 PM or sooner) – Dawson Checkpoint Closes (NEW TIME)
Cut-off time for official finish is 21:00. Checkpoint will shut down at this hour or earlier if final team has arrived. Up until this point, a secure area will be available for team equipment. 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 at the Awards Presentation and will be recognized as official finishers.
Sunday, June 30
11 am – 2 pm Awards Dinner & Celebration
Gather at Robert Service School (enter behind school at 4th and Queen). Banquet tickets added to racer packets. Extras may be purchased by support crews from YRMPA at registration. Catered by Percy De Wolfe Society with assistance form Northland Beverages. We will have the awards presentation first, and then eat and tell stories!