And then there were 11.

At least seven teams have had to pull out of Cain’s Quest, billed as the world’s toughest snowmobile endurance race.

Most of the 11 remaining teams had reached the checkpoint in Nain yesterday and are now on their way to Goose Bay.

Chair of Cain’s Quest Todd Kent says the elements and mechanical issues proved too much for some of the teams.

He says one team from Nova Scotia decided to pull out after getting wet.

He says one machine tipped over in slush and when his buddy came over to help him, and went up to his waist in slushy water. He says they had a spare set of clothes, but not on them, and they decided it was too risky to continue on.