Article: The Great Loop

map? what about the map of the great loop ( sorry )

The story noted that there was a 19 foot clearance on the NY Canals. That depends. The Champlain canal has a clearance of 15 feet. I transited this May and had to have the mast on my sailboat taken down at Westport, New York. There are also bridges lower than 19 feet on the Oswego Canal I think. Check out New York State Canal Authority for correct information.

Congrats to those contributing to this article. Brought back wonderful memories of our trip '85-'86. Think we were the first to do the Great Loop, since the Tombigbee opended while we were traveling.The miss river had 14 knt currents. We did the trip to/from Chattanoogo TN clockwise and included a turn to the Bahamas in our 32' sailboat. 65% was motoring with mast pulled. Had to assemble our own cruising guide. Children 16, 13, 13 schooled using U of NE and Calvert. Trip changed our family life for better. No regrets (not that the trip was a "Love Boat"). Our trip was written up in CRUSING WORLD, "Dreams Do Come True", June 1988.(our source of inspiration) No pirates, sharks or drug deals. People we met were wonderful-what an example to us all. Happy cruising to you all. We are aground now on an alpaca farm on Colorado. Malcolm & Joyce Babb, Byers CO

The America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association is thrilled to announce its annual Spring Rendezvous and Reunion. The three-day long festivities, seminars and workshops will take place on April 6-9, 2009 at the City Marina and the Town & Country Inn on Savannah Highway in Charleston, SC.

The Spring Rendezvous & Reunion is the very first meeting that the Great Loop cruisers attend on their year long journey on the waterways of the eastern portion of North America – including the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, the Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America’s heartland. Many potential Loopers or those that are in the planning stages travel to Charleston, SC, by a boat, car or plane to participate in the Reunion which gives them a chance to learn more about the Great Loop. The Spring Rendezvous features presentations about the waterway journey from South Carolina to Georgian Bay in Canada, seminars on safety, vessel safety checks and valuable cruising information about the Intracoastal Waterway, Chesapeake Bay and other parts of the Great Loop. Traditionally, the event features its ever-popular Looper Crawls that allow attendees to visit Loopers’ vessels. To register visit www.greatloop.org