MV Tortuga
America’s Great Loop
There’s a certain kind of dream that doesn’t sit still—the kind that winds through rivers, slips past quiet anchorages, and stretches across thousands of miles of ever-changing water. That dream is America’s Great Loop.
For those who haven’t heard of it, the Great Loop is a continuous waterway route that circles the eastern half of the United States, connecting rivers, canals, the Great Lakes, and coastal passages into one incredible journey. It’s not just a trip—it’s a lifestyle, a challenge, and for many, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
What makes the Loop so special isn’t just the distance—it’s the variety. One week you might be navigating narrow, shallow stretches of the Intracoastal Waterway, and the next you’re crossing vast open waters or tying up in a small town you’ve never heard of but will never forget. Every mile tells a different story.
Unlike a typical vacation, the Loop isn’t about rushing from place to place. It’s about slowing down, learning the rhythms of life on the water, and embracing both the planned stops and the unexpected detours. Weather shifts, depths change, and plans evolve—but that’s all part of the experience.
For us, this journey is about more than miles logged. It’s about the life we’re building along the way—sharing the realities of cruising, navigating shallow waters, discovering great food and drinks in hidden gems, and enjoying the simple moments that come with living aboard. And of course, doing it all with our cat Wimbi, who may or may not become the true captain of the boat.
Whether you’re dreaming about doing the Loop yourself or just want to follow along from shore, we’re excited to share every part of this adventure—the good, the challenging, and the unforgettable.
- Day 29Thursday, June 11 Alligator River Anchorage (South Lake) – Elizabeth City, NC 31.67 nm 6.25 hours underway We pulled up anchor with some feelings of dread—another slalom through crab pots… Read more: Day 29
- Day 28Wednesday, June 10 Dowry Creek (Belhaven) – South Lake (Alligator River Anchorage) 48.84 nm 8 hours underway It was a quiet morning on Dowry Creek, and the cast of characters… Read more: Day 28
- Day 26-27Monday, June 8 Oriental – Belhaven Tuesday, June 9 Dock Day – Dowry Creek Marina – Belhaven We left Mile Hammock with a mix of anticipation and just a little… Read more: Day 26-27
- Day 25Sunday, June 8 Mile Hammock – Oriental 63 nm 8.5 hours underway We had another early start—wanting to make the first bridge opening at 7 and hopefully get ahead of… Read more: Day 25
- Day 24Southport to Mile Hammock anchorage 65 nm – 9.5 hours underway There’s a saying: “A bad day on the water beats a good day at work.” Today… felt like work.… Read more: Day 24
- Days 22 & 23Thursday, June 4 Enterprise Point – Southport, NC 57.67 nm 9.25 hours underway Friday, June 5 Dock day We were up with the sun—well, technically with Wimbi’s food dispenser—ready to… Read more: Days 22 & 23
- Day 21Wednesday, June 3 Georgetown, SC – Enterprise Creek Anchorage 26.83 nm 4.5 hours underway The day was bookended with highlights. We woke up to a brisk 52-degree morning and while… Read more: Day 21
- Day 20Tuesday, June 2 Leland Oil Co. (McLellanville) – Georgetown, SC 24 nm 4.25 hours underway We went back and forth on the plan for the day—Georgetown or Wacca Wache. Wacca… Read more: Day 20
- Day 19Monday, June 1 Charleston, SC – Leland Oil Co. 31.3 nm 6.25 hours underway Rest Day There is a saying in sailing: “if you are thinking about reefing, you are… Read more: Day 19
- Day 17 & 18Saturday & Sunday, May 30-31 Church Creek to Charleston 19.2 nm – 4 hours underway After a busy week, we were both excited about the possibility of sleeping in. Naturally,… Read more: Day 17 & 18
- Day 16Friday, May 29 Beaufort to Church Creek Anchorage 48.23 nm 9.75 hours underway Today’s run was relaxed and unhurried – to the point that we chose to continue heading north… Read more: Day 16
- Day 15Thursday, May 28 Savannah to Beaufort 41.1 nm 7 hours underway The stretch from Savannah to Beaufort felt like a shift. In days prior, we had long stretches of uninhabited… Read more: Day 15
- Day 14Wednesday, May 27 Kilkenny – Savannah 27 nm – 4.5 hours underway We left Kilkenny expecting a pretty day on the water. What we didn’t expect was just how empty… Read more: Day 14
- Day 13Darien – Kilkenny Tuesday, May 26 41.4 nm – 6.75 hour underway After our detour inland to Darien, we began the morning retracing our path back to the ICW. This… Read more: Day 13
- Day 12Monday, May 25 St. Simon’s Island – Darien 32 nm – 4.75 hours underway We had every intention of staying put. Darien sits about 7 nautical miles west of the… Read more: Day 12
- Days 10 & 11St. Simon’s Island Saturday & Sunday, May 23-24 Dock Days Not every day is a fun day on the Loop. Some days…are for cleaning. Docked and plugged in, we traded… Read more: Days 10 & 11
- Day 9Friday, May 21 St. Mary’s to Saint Simons Island 36.5 NM 6.5 hours underway The day began quietly at St. Mary’s, the kind of still morning that makes it hard… Read more: Day 9
- Day 8Thursday, May 20 Sisters Creek Anchorage – St. Mary’s Intracoastal Gateway Marina 26.7 NM – 6.5 underway (including fuel stop and circling) After a peaceful night on the hook at… Read more: Day 8
- Day 7Wednesday, May 20 River’s Edge Marina (St. Augustine) to Sisters Creek Anchorage (Jacksonville) 36.9 NM 6.8 hours underway Today was our first real lesson in coordinating both tide and bridge… Read more: Day 7
- Day 6St. Augustine Dock Day Tuesday, May 19 0 NM 0 hours underway Not every day on the Loop is filled with dolphin, or dramatic stories—and today was one of those… Read more: Day 6
- Day 5Monday, May 18 Marinetown Marina (South of St. Augustine) to River’s Edge Marina (St. Augustine) 15.2 nm – 3 hours underway We knew this would be a short cruise day,… Read more: Day 5
- Day 4Sunday, May 17 Halifax Harbor Marina (Daytona Beach) to Marineland Marina (outside of St. Augustine) 30.83 NM – 5 hours underway There’s a saying in boating: sometimes you watch the… Read more: Day 4
- Day 3Saturday, May 16 Mosquito Lagoon (Cape Canaveral Seashore) – Halifax Harbor Marina (Daytona Beach) 29.28 NM – 5.5 hours underway Day 3: The Case for a Second Head When you’re… Read more: Day 3
- Day 2Friday, May 15 Telamar (Melbourne) – Mosquito Lagoon 49.65 NM 9 hours underway As perfect as Day One was, Day Two was—well—not. We kicked things off with a Keurig explosion,… Read more: Day 2
- Day OneThursday – May 14 Vero Beach – Melbourne (Telamar Bay Marina) 34.94 NM – Underway from 8:21 – 15:58 We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect start to our… Read more: Day One