The 2023 Yukon River Quest is off and paddling.

The annual river spectacle started Tuesday at 9 a.m. from Rotary Park in Whitehorse.

Jason Biensch, half of the Maximum Capacity tandem canoe team, along with Spencer Edelman, said his goodbyes to his family before he left on the 715 km journey to Dawson City.

Biensch said he was feeling “cautiously optimistic. The south wind will help us. Makes it a little tippier, so it’s a trade-off.”

When it was mentioned that the wind shifting to the west could result in more waves, Biensch said, “It’s Lake Laberge. She’s always got waves.”

Biensch agreed that you never know what to expect with the infamous lake.

“It’s always changing.”

Biensch’s wife Kendall and his two sons, Elliott, five and Kellan, six, bid him a safe journey.

“Here to cheer me on. Or push me out in the boat, I guess.”

Biensch said this is the worst time of the race.

“You’re sitting there looking at everybody standing around and you don’t train for this, right? I want to be on the water.

“It’s gonna be an interesting year, this year. It’s higher than 2015, ‘16, ‘17, but nowhere near as bad as the last couple years. It should help push us along.”

Biensch and Edeleman’s training included a paddle to Carmacks.

“It felt pretty good. Didn’t tip yet, so, here’s to hoping.”

Biensch added the old saying, “Blisters and bruises and beers in Dawson. We’ll be there.”

Jim Boyde, 80, the veteran crew leader for the six-person TS’ALVIT voyageur canoe, said, “It always seems to feel like there’s more things you can do but you have to take what you have worked towards.”

As for training, Boyde said they started paddling in the pool back in January once a week.

“Then we got in open water below the coffer dam in early April with the tandems, and then changed over to our voyageur.

“We had a seven-person voyageur to start with, and then one of the paddlers had to drop out, so we have our Kisseynew boat with six, so, we’re good.”

Boyde didn’t see the beautiful weather forecast as an advantage for him.

“Warm weather makes me suffer more than anything.

“Getting by Lake Laberge is always a big plus, so once that happens, you’re getting a little bit of extra pull from current water going toward Coal Mind and Carmacks.”

Boyde thought the south wind would be an advantage.

“As long as it’s not too big on Laberge. It has happened before. It’s nice to be a little cooler and the odd cloud around, and the south wind does help.”

Boyde felt there was a concern about high waves at the end of Laberge.

“There can be six-foot waves at the end, so we try to avoid those.”

When asked if he ever gets tired of paddling in the YRQ, Boyde replied, “I like the training. Its a little stressful at times when you’re down the river and don’t know if you’re half-awake or still able to paddle.

“And getting thorough Five Fingers (Rapids) is always a big plus, also.”

Boyde said the rest of his crew was feeling good.

“Some of them have done it a few times in different craft, tandem canoes or kayaks but it’s always different when you’re in a six-person team.”

As for goals for the race, Boyde said, “We’d like to be under 50 (hours), so if we can get into Dawson under 50, it’d be a big plus for us.”

Boyde added. “We take our team name from Arctic loons that show up year after year at the mouth of the Klondike. (Elder) Ruth Caroll gave us access to the Gwitchin name that we use for our team.”

The Carcs, a C4 family, including father Michael Peirce, son Ben Wright and twin daughters Emily and Claire Wright, said they were feeling “awesome. We’re ready to roll. We’re gonna have a great time on the river,” said Peirce. “We’re all super-close and having fun.”

Peirce said he only got two hours of sleep and was planning on running on adrenaline.

“I’m perfect. Ready to go.”

Peirce said he was looking forward to taking on Lake Laberge.

“If we can get into that lake with the south wind, and get through it pretty quickly, we’ll be OK. Quickly is like, eight hours.”

Ben said he was feeling “pretty good. Excited. Got a few butterflies this morning but not as bad as other things I’ve done, which is good. Ready to go. Ready to paddle.”

Claire added, “Ready to get in the boat and get this thing started.”

Emily added, “Can’t wait to get on the water.”

Voyageur canoe Team 3-2-1-Go 2023 were the first to arrive in Carmacks at 6:04:28 this morning. Tandem canoe Golden Lake Crew were second in at 6:14:23. Another tandem canoe, Planned Grit, were in third at 6:39:27. Boyde’s TS’ALVIT crew checked in fourth to Carmacks at 6:43:47.