​Two former Devon police officers are preparing for a grueling 1,000-mile kayaking expedition, paddling up to 18 hours a day and camping wild as they aim to steer clear of bears and mosquitoes along the way. Jim Nye, 57, an assistant chief constable from Exeter, and Ian Tyers, 61, from Rockbeare, were chosen as part of a 30-team field for this year’s Yukon challenge, a 1,609-kilometer (about 1,000 miles) route that kicked off on Friday.
Their arduous journey takes them from northern Canada to the edge of the Arctic Circle in Alaska, and they are doing it to raise funds for Devon’s FORCE cancer charity. Nye explained that they must carry everything needed to endure ten days in the wilderness, describing the event as what is billed as the world’s longest kayak race.
Nye and Tyers are among 60 competitors in the race, which demands remarkable physical and mental resilience as participants must be completely self-sufficient and prepared to survive in true wilderness conditions if necessary. The two long-time friends—having known each other for more than three decades—hope to complete the course in about seven and a half days, well ahead of the nine days and 18 hours cut-off.
This expedition marks the third installment in their so-called “water trilogy.” They previously tackled the UK’s longest canoe race—125 miles (201 kilometers) from Devizes to Westminster in 2009—and then undertook a 3,000-mile (4,828-kilometer) Atlantic row in 2024. Tyers noted that their Yukon plans had been in motion since 2009 and that the earlier challenges were steps toward qualifying for this ultimate endurance test. The pair have trained in the UK in preparation before embarking on the Yukon course.
Competition rules permit kayaking up to 18 hours per day, and Nye acknowledged that the inevitable discomfort and exhaustion would be part of the challenge. Tyers described the race as a journey toward the “midnight sun,” noting that there is no total darkness, but they expect to be sufficiently fatigued during brief rests to sleep without issue.
Nye emphasized that they would carry all necessary gear to stay self-sufficient in the wilderness, including dried food, water-purification equipment, and specialized masks to protect against smoke if wildfires are encountered. They must also take precautions to deter bears, such as paddling while eating—advice they intend to follow rather than sitting on a bank during bear season with food nearby. Tyers added that they would carry bear spray and other deterrents and would heed guidance to avoid bears by moving on if one is spotted. While Nye anticipated seeing bears, he did not expect them to pose a serious problem, and he suggested that mosquitoes would be a more persistent nuisance. To combat insects, they will wear head-covering mesh during the journey.
Both men relish the challenge of testing themselves and contributing to a good cause by raising at least £1 for every mile they race. Their efforts aim to give something back to the communities they serve, all in support of FORCE. Follow updates from BBC Devon for more coverage of their remarkable undertaking.