OPA-LOCKA, Fla. -- Two Miami Beach women departed from Opa-locka Airport on Monday to take part in the longest all-women transcontinental air race in the world.

Kristen Jurn and Tamra Sheffman are the only women representing South Florida in the 32nd annual Air Race Classic, which dates back more than 70 years.

The pilots, who have more than 30 years of flight experience collectively, are expected to land in Bozeman, Mont., for the start of the race. There they will meet their opponents at the starting line.

"This is really a celebration of women from the 1929 Air Derby … and it's about camaraderie and encouraging young women and women of all ages to stick together and do something fun and adventurous, and really it's a great learning experience," said Jurn.

Contestants have from June 24 to June 27 to fly about 2,500 miles, covering 10 states and finishing at Mansfield Municipal Airport in Massachusetts.

South Florida native Barrington Irving, the youngest pilot to fly around the world solo, was at Opa-locka Airport to wish the women well on their journey.

Jurn and Sheffman have both prepared extensively for the four-day trip while also running their own businesses. Sheffman is a real estate agent and Jurn is in the middle of launching a jet ownership company.