The eighth annual Yukon River Quest (YRQ) got off to a bit of a rocky start Tuesday, when seven of the teams entered in the race faced disqualification, due to illegal measurements of their boats.

For safety reasons, organizers of the YRQ limit how fast a boat is allowed to be, because faster boats tend to be tippy. So the board adopted a ratio, measuring the length of the boat at the four-inch water line, the width of the boat at the four-inch water line and then dividing one by the other.

If the number is less than 10.6 for a solo kayak, then it is legal.

Six Epic kayaks entered in the race went over the legal limit when they were measured at registration yesterday afternoon in Whitehorse three of which belonged to YRQ board members.

The problem, according to past president of the board Peter Coates, who was involved in measuring the boats Tuesday, is the kayaks were advertised on the race's website as acceptable under the rules.

'We went by the manufacturer's numbers,' explained Coates. 'Now, we've measured them here and there are problems.'

According to the manufacturer's specifications, the boats are legal, but when they were measured in Whitehorse they came in at 10.72, over the 10.6 limit.

The board members, excluding those who are racing, met Tuesday evening to determine whether to allow the boats, and if they did, whether to impose some sort of penalty.

'I really don't think we're going to disqualify anyone, there will be other penalties if anything,' said Coates, prior to the meeting.

He was right in the end, as all six boats were allowed into the race without a penalty. But another team two-time former champion Steve Landick and his partner Gregg Nelson received a time penalty because of concerns with the measurements of their canoe.

'We gave Landick a one hour penalty,' stated Jeff Brady, current president of the board. 'For the six Epic kayakers, because how we measure may not be the same as how the manufacturer measures, we were not really in a position to say for sure it was illegal, so we're allowing it.

'We're going to be in touch with the manufacturer and go from there. But all the questionable boats are in the race.'

This year's race is expected to feature some tough and tight competition in both the men's and women's categories, according to defending champion and Whitehorse resident Stephen Mooney.

'I think the water is fast and records are going to be broken,' stated Mooney, who will be riding solo this year after teaming with fellow Yukoner Greg McHale in a tandem kayak in 2005.

'We'll have to see if people can keep it going. Personally, my goals are to keep a high RPM (rate of strokes per minute), plus 90, the whole way, eat well, drink tons, and I think that's going to get me into Dawson in a fast time.'

Having a new, more comfortable seat in his kayak won't hurt either. Joe Bishop, who raced solo last year, gave his wheelchair victim seat to Mooney this time around.

'It makes the boat more expensive,' said Mooney. 'But I think this will be the best on my back ever.'

Even with the new seat, Mooney was cautious in predicting just how well he would do in terms of placing this year.

'There's some really good Outside competition. I think the British army is going to be in the hunt. David Kelly and Brandon Nelson will certainly be in the hunt as well. I hope to be riding their wake all the way.

'Heather Nelson is going to destroy the course, tear it up. I will openly predict three hours off the existing (women's solo kayak) record.'

Asked about Mooney's prediction, Nelson laughed and jokingly called Mooney a smack talker. She doesn't want to get too far ahead of herself, considering it's her first year doing the race solo.

'I want to have a good race, paddled as hard as I can, and I want to be exhausted when I get to the finish line, just leave it all out there.'

Asked why she decided to go it alone this time, after she and husband Brandon finished fourth overall last year, Nelson said she wanted a new challenge.

'Last year's race was phenomenal. Brandon and I had a great time. I wanted to raise the bar on myself. Racing solo, you challenge yourself to really focus on all the elements, whereas in a tandem, you're relying on each other.'

Going from a tandem team to a solo racer isn't Nelson's only similarity with Mooney, as she also made a seat change for comfort reasons. Peeing in their boats is never an easy or fun task for River Quest racers, but it's even more challenging for women.

Nelson, with help from her husband, cut and created a special seat for her kayak with a hole in it. When she pees, it goes through the hole into a compartment underneath the seat. The pee then comes out of the compartment through a tube, which is controlled by a foot pump that's easy for Nelson to access. It's all topped off by an exhaust valve on the front of the boat to get rid of the pee.

'So I can now pee and never have to stop my boat during the race,' she explained.

To make matters even easier, Nelson discovered skorts, which are shorts with a skirt over top. So she's able to have a hole in her shorts to bee through, but still have the skirt coverage for privacy.

'I call it the world's most comfortable toilet,' she laughed about her invention, joking with spectators that her idea would soon by mass-produced all over the world.

Nelson and Mooney, along with their new comfy seats, will set out on the Yukon River with 73 other teams at 12:30 this afternoon in Whitehorse. Racers start at the White Pass & Yukon Route building on Main Street, then run down to their boats on the bank of the river in Rotary Peace Park.

The River Quest wraps up with an awards banquet in Dawson City on July 2.

A record six voyageur teams are entered this year, along with 28 tandem canoes, 23 solo kayaks, and 18 tandem kayaks.

Ninety-nine paddlers from Canada represent the largest national contingent, followed by the United States with 44, Great Britain with 21, two from Austria, and one from Australia.

The first finisher is expected into Dawson late Friday afternoon or evening.

The Star will have full coverage throughout the race.