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One night ahead of the longest paddling trip of their lives, Brent Coyne and John MacDonald appeared cool and calm.

"It's just one of those bucket list things, you know?鈥� said MacDonald, 36. "It sounded like a good idea at the time. Finishing is the goal.鈥�

The duo from southern B.C. will be attempting the 715-km Yukon鈥圧iver Quest by canoe, under the team name "Tailwind Turners.鈥�

The 16th annual River Quest began at noon today under overcast skies in Whitehorse.

Coyne, 33, said the two are looking forward to the adventure, regardless of what the river throws at them.

"We're going in relatively green,鈥� he admitted. "We've done a couple of multi-kilometre paddles, but otherwise nothing too arduous.鈥�

Paddlers from around the world packed into a room at the Yukon鈥圴isitor Information Centre last night for a pre-race briefing led by race marshal Roger Hanberg.

Self-sufficiency, hydration and safety were messages Hanberg stressed heavily throughout his presentation.

Paddlers would do well to heed that advice, veteran solo kayaker Darran Williams told the Star.

"It becomes very difficult in places, and very, very lonely,鈥� said Williams, 34. "You've got to be really mentally strong to survive in this race. You can be on your own all the way to Dawson.

"I guess you've got to be a certain person to want to take on a race like this. You're more often than not into other extreme sports, and you're an adventurous type of person anyway.鈥�

The Brit paddler 鈥� who also dabbles in BMX biking and skydiving 鈥� completed the race in 2012 and 2013, and is hoping to clinch a third straight finish as "The Black Sheep鈥� this year.

"2012 was my first big kayaking event and I went in a bit blind,鈥� he said. "I ended up finishing last in 72 hours and it was a very tough race. I got a few injuries from it, but I knew I could do better.鈥�

Williams returned last year to knock 22 hours off his race time.

"Last year, I was only an hour off the leaders, so I鈥坱hought maybe I can give her a bash. But unfortunately, in the leadup to this race, I had a few injuries and am recovering from a broken rib and some pulled tendons. It hasn't been ideal.

"It's an awesome race and I just want to get better and better at it. That's why I keep coming back.鈥�

Another duo hoping to complete the paddle to Dawson are Dave McWethy and Sauny Sewell of Bozeman, Mont.

Both 44, the couple will be known as the "Montana Misfits.鈥�

McWethy and Sewell both grew up paddling in the U.S. with their families and hope to be among the boats crossing the finish line in Dawson City this weekend.

"It means we're living a lifestyle that we want to live,鈥� McWethy said.

"Just being active and outdoors and not working inside all the time,鈥� added Sewell.

This year's race will feature 66 teams and 153 paddlers in what is being described by race organizers as the largest international field in history.

Thirteen countries are represented 鈥� Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.

The race title is also up for grabs, with last year's champions, tandem canoeists Tim Lynch and Dave Lewis, not returning.

Except for two mandatory rest stops totalling 10 hours, paddlers race non-stop over approximately 715 kilometres (444 miles) to Dawson City.

Held annually in the North during the last week of June around the summer solstice, it is a true "Race to the Midnight Sun鈥� where many of the world's best paddlers gather.

The total possible 2014 race purse will be approximately $22,500 (CAD).