May 2025 Great Loop Link
FROM THE EDITOR'S DECK
After last month's article about crossing the border into Canada, several of our Canadian members had additional questions about the procedure for them to enter the U.S. for their Great Loop journey and what they can expect after they arrive. We did some additional research and spoke with an immigration attorney to get additional advice. We also spoke with some of our U.S. Harbor Hosts as well as a current Canadian Looper to see what their experiences have been so far this season.
Whether you are crossing the border into Canada this season or not, Gold Loopers Dave & Nancy Kanzler share with us a trip on the western Erie Canal. See things that most Loopers miss, and you can still make it into Canada for the summer if you choose!
Many Loopers bring their furry (& feathered) friends with them on the Great Loop. What should you consider before leaving the dock? Tom & Brenda Lahey, Gold Loopers and AGLCA Sponsors, The Clever Boater, share some tips to make completing the Loop with your favorite pets a pleasant experience.
And as always, don't miss your fellow Loopers' Wake Crossing announcements.
In this issue:
Admiral Sponsors
Wake Crossings Reported in April:
Blessings Flow
Congratulations to Lance & Brenda, who completed their Loop on April 24, 2025 aboard their Bayliner 4087, Blessings Flow.
"After almost two years and just over 9,000 miles, we have completed our Great Loop (and a half) in Oriental, NC. The trip fulfilled a dream we had worked towards for fifteen years. It was an adventure, for sure.
"We saw parts of the country we never would have seen otherwise. I don’t know how many times we said, 'This isn’t what I pictured, looking at the charts.' Every part was beautiful, in its own way.
"We also said many times, 'Man, this would have been a very different trip before the days of GPS, electronic navigation, tablets, internet, etc.' We are so thankful for all the resource providers: USACE, the navigation apps, the weather apps, the AGLCA, Bob423, Waterway Guide, and The Boat Galley, to name a few.
"Lance wrote 195 Waterway Guide reviews. We anchored 121 nights.
"We will miss the water views and watching the birds. Who knew they were so interesting! It was fun to see bird species in the north, and then see them again in the south. Once, we heard a Kildeer outside in December. One of us said, 'I thought they went south in the winter.' 'We are south!' was the answer.
"It has been fun making acquaintances with other Loopers throughout the trip. With our common interest in boating, they are usually very easy to get to know."
Bonnie Doon
Congratulations to Michael & Martha (along with OC!) who completed their Loop on April 10, 2025 aboard their 34' Mainship Mk1, Bonnie Doon.
"We eased Bonnie Doon back into our home marina in Charleston, SC on April 10, 2025. The chart plotter showed our track joining end to start. Just like that, the Great Loop is complete.
"Our bucket is overflowing. Miles and milestones blur together now, but the friendships shine in sharp focus. From gatherings and fellowship in tiny river towns, to engine troubleshooting with total strangers turned family, we carry a lifetime of stories—and boat cards—home with us.
"Life aboard a 34-foot boat demanded that the two of us function as one. Michael’s strong hands wrestled stubborn parts and pieces while Martha’s small fingers fished lost screws from impossible corners. One ear caught the faint crackle of lockmasters on the VHF; the other deciphered five weather apps into a single plan. Martha loves a tidy day plan and the rhythm of the chartplotter; Michael can jury rig a solution out of hose clamps and hope. Patience traded places with urgency as needed. OC, our cat, supervised it all from his perch.
"Yes, we grounded her—twice—and argued about whose 'shortcut' it was. We shared 300 square feet through heat, cold, rain, and rolling seas. But every snag on the prop or glitch in the operations became another chance to watch our different strengths braid together. What started as one person’s dream slowly turned into both of our passions.
"Crossing that finish line didn’t feel like an ending. It felt like the moment a deep breath finally reaches the bottom of your lungs. We’re stronger, a little saltier, and definitely handier with running the boat systems, yet home looks comfortingly the same. The bridge we passed under this morning is still just a bridge; we’re the ones who changed.
"Tonight, Bonnie Doon rests in her slip, lines snug, diesel finally quiet. OC has already claimed the porch he left behind last May. We’re letting the gratitude wash over us—grateful for calm seas and following winds, for patient lock tenders, for the friends who grabbed our lines, and for each other.
"Tomorrow we’ll get back to reality. But for now, we’re savoring the simple truth: together, we made it all the way around. Our wake has closed, but the circle it drew will stay with us forever."
Dream Looper
Congratulations to Ed, Julie, & Ben (and Katie Bell!), who completed their Loop on April 19, 2025 aboard their Mainship 390, Dream Looper.
"The Kimsey family began their Great Loop adventure April 15, 2024 aboard their Mainship 390 Dream Looper. 370 amazing days later, our adventure is complete. We have experienced and learned so much on this journey. The only crew member that fell overboard is our sweet dog, Katie Bell, bless her heart. We have had the opportunity to visit so many beautiful places and meet new lifelong friends. We are grateful for the support of the AGLCA and the Home Port Crew. Our boating days are definitely not over, we are just getting started!"
FITZ PERFECTLY
Congratulations to Michael & Jan (and Coco!), who completed their Loop on March 23, 2025 aboard their Navigator 4800 Classic, FITZ PERFECTLY.
Lady Betz
Congratulations to Joe & Betsy, who completed their Loop on April 23, 2025 aboard their Mainship 390, Lady Betz.
"This was definitely the trip of a lifetime and the adventure we had been dreaming about for 10 years. It wasn’t always easy, we learned to be flexible when issues arose that we had no control over, but we wouldn’t change a minute of it. The growth we experienced as a couple and as a team was worth the anxious moments and we fell in love with parts of our country that we never thought about visiting before. Traveling by water allowed us to enjoy a relaxed pace that’s not possible when traveling by land and the people we met in towns along the way were warm and welcoming. We can’t say enough about the AGLCA organization and our fellow Loopers, the community is like no other. Everyone was generous with their time and knowledge, always willing to jump in and lend a hand or offer encouragement. And of course…there were docktails! The time spent hearing other Loopers’ stories and sharing similar experiences and challenges was priceless. The Looper bond is strong, and we’ve been blessed to have made lifelong friends. We encourage anyone who is thinking about doing the Great Loop to join AGLCA, attend an event, step out of your comfort zone, and GO! You won’t regret it!"
Laneytoons
Congratulations to Jerry & Lori, who completed their Loop on January 20, 2025 aboard their Westcoast 46, Laneytoons.
"We experienced an adventure of a lifetime! It was an amazing 6,539 mile journey through rivers, lakes, streams, canals, locks, oceans and some sand bars. We learned a lot about ourselves, fell in love with our boat, and met lifelong friends."
Number 99
Congratulations to Patty & Andrew, who completed their Loop on April 10, 2025 aboard their Kadey Krogen 42, Number 99.
Resonance
Congratulations to George & Christine, who completed their Loop on January 21, 2025 aboard their Marlow 57E, Resonance.
Ripple
Congratulations to Alison & Doug, who completed their Loop on April 27, 2025 aboard their Mainship 390, Ripple.
"The Great Loop was a bucket list item. I had boated on Lake Erie for years, including 15 years as a charter boat captain, but I had never set a route or navigated any other waters until embarking on this trip. The Loopers we met on the first leg of the journey shared best practices, navigation tips, and their favorite apps for navigation and weather. We are forever grateful for the mentoring, friendship and assistance. The resources and support of Kim and the Home Port Crew at the AGLCA was greatly appreciated too! It was the journey of a lifetime! Alison and I had the longest 'first date' in our lives! Only a couple times did Alison mention: 'If this was our first date........' We only made a couple bad weather decisions early in the trip. Our hearts are full thinking of all the friends we made along the journey and the help we received from total strangers. We were able to reconnect with high school classmates, college classmates and other friends along the way which was so great! We can't thank them enough for the hospitality shown to us! We also thank our family and many friends who supported us on this adventure!"
Sea Gem
Congratulations to Darin & Susan (and Izzy!), who completed their SECOND Loop on April 10, 2025 aboard their Cruisers Yachts 415 Express, Sea Gem.
"We have enjoyed being part of the Looper community for the last three years and we are ecstatic to now fly the platinum flag. We have made memories and friendships that will last a lifetime."
Seadation
Congratulations to Mike & Sue, who completed their Loop on April 12, 2025 aboard their 35' Jeanneau NC11, Seadation.
"We started the Loop September 2, 2024 out of our home port of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. We elected to do the Loop backwards, travelling through Canada, down the St. Lawrence to Montreal, then Champlain Canal, Eastern Seaboard, around the Keys and up the Tenn-Tom back home in 7 months. A fairly speedy trip, but there are other adventures on the list we want to check off too....before time grows short."
Serengeti
Congratulations to John & Catherine, who completed their Loop on April 7, 2025 aboard their North Pacific 450, Serengeti.
"It was more than we ever imagined! Beautiful places, wonderful people and an opportunity to do something that very few will ever have the chance to do. In fact, we loved it so much we’ve already started our second Loop!"
Serenova
Congratulations to Steve & Fran, who completed their Loop on March 20, 2025 aboard their Leopard 58 Catamaran, Serenova.
"It was quite a learning experience. How much work was put into the lock system. Challenging and fun to live with my 6 grandkids and their parents. Saw parts of the country and world I'd have never seen before."
Short Circuit
Congratulations to Al & Jayne, who completed their Loop on April 11, 2025 aboard their Mainship 390, Short Circuit.
"On Friday, April 11th we returned to Jekyll Island, GA, after 312 days on the Loop! We have learned so much about boating, history, and geography. We have met so many wonderful people and made some dear friends. It really was an adventure of a lifetime!"
Admiral Sponsors
Commander and Lieutenant Plus
Lieutenant
