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What happens when you put five kayakers and a rookie River Quester in a hand-built Texan voyageur? They post the fastest overall time in the last four years

More than 20 years of River Quest experience translated into a victory last Friday as Yukon鈥圵ide Adventures claimed the top spot in the 19th annual Yukon River Quest, pulling into Dawson鈥圕ity at 4:47 p.m. after 715 kilometres on the river.

The voyageur team of Gus Oliveira, Pat McLellan, Wayne Anderson, Dave Hutchison, Stephen Mooney and Thomas de Jager posted a time of 42 hours, 47 minutes and eight seconds, which is the fastest winning time in the past four years.

鈥淚t was a neat experience,鈥� said bow paddler Oliveira, of Saltspring Islanda, B.C.

鈥淲e鈥檙e all solo paddlers. Putting us all together, there was a lot of doubt as to how we would all perform together, but it was an amazing experience.鈥圗veryone worked as a team right from the start.鈥�

More amazing still was that the team, which was primarily solo kayakers, had only one paddler with major canoeing experience on the team: McClellan, who was also a River Quest rookie.

鈥淚t鈥檚 quite the experience,鈥� said Calgary鈥檚 McLellan. 鈥淔or 20-ish years I鈥檝e been trying to talk people into doing this.鈥�

This spring, he got his wish.

鈥淲hen the opportunity came up to race with these fellows, it was great, magical,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 must admit that it鈥檚 a lot longer than I鈥檓 used to and I鈥檓 feeling the consequences.鈥�

McLellan sat in three seat and along with Hutchinson 鈥� in four seat 鈥� called the 鈥榟uts鈥�, which is when the paddlers switch sides of the boat.

Anderson sat in two seat, while Mooney and de Jager, the boat鈥檚 only Yukoners were in five seat and the stern.

Each paddler was positioned strategically in the boat and each had a part to play.

鈥淵ou start off with the owner of the boat saying 鈥業 want to be in the back,鈥� he knows the river, I said 鈥榦k Thomas鈥� and I say 鈥業 want to keep an eye on you, you could fall asleep,鈥欌�� said Mooney.

With Oliveira at the front setting the pace 鈥� an average of 57 strokes a minute, the same as their boat number, 57 鈥� and Anderson taking over when he needed a rest, Mooney performed the same function for de Jager, steering the boat whenever the captain needed a rest.

鈥淥n one hand it鈥檚 harder because you keep on going with your team, you don鈥檛 want to disappoint your team, even there鈥檚 moments when it鈥檚 harder than paddling solo,鈥� said de Jager. 鈥淏ut on the other hand certain things are easier.鈥�

There鈥檚 also comrades to trade stories and snacks with 鈥� cantaloupe, pretzels, gatorade 鈥� and people to answer when queried about routes around islands. In-boat tasks become easier with five others to support you.

鈥淭his is luxury compared to a kayak. So much more room,鈥� said Mooney. 鈥淭he boat still moves when you put your blade away.鈥�

While a record run remained out of reach for the team, there鈥檚 questions on whether they will take advantage of the pole position and free entry into 2018鈥檚 race.

de Jager has now posted top finishes in all four of his River Quests.

鈥淚鈥檓 happy.鈥圛 can鈥檛 beat that. Maybe I take a break, but you never know. If I hear again the call of the Yukon River Quest, maybe I come again,鈥� de Jager laughs. 鈥淵ou never know.鈥�

More photos and stories from the Yukon River Quest in Wednesday鈥檚 Whitehorse Star.