America's Great Loop Cruisers Association - AGLCA

It's time to renew our American Great Loop Cruisers Association membership. We joined the AGLCA last September while we were at Red Cliff Marina near Bayfield, Wisconsin. We had already started our Great Loop Adventure, leaving from Knife River Minnesota on September 4, 2016. We stopped at Red Cliff to visit our dear friends Jim and Linda Weckman. They introduced us to the Great Loop back when we were neighbors on the docks at Knife River. While we were visiting them at Red Cliff, they gave us their Looper flag. Once we had that flag, we had to become AGLCA members in order to fly the burgee.

Ready to leave Knife River, MN

Mystic at Red Cliff

Beth and Linda aboard
their Nauticat, Pemion

The AGLCA is an organization for anyone interested in, planning for or currently "Looping". It's a support group, or phone a friend of sorts, filled with information and lot's of folks who offer help and experience. They have a forum that is meant to be our communication and information sharing system. Members start topics and then responses start flowing in. As a member, we have posted responses to topics that we have experience with. Everyone is having their very own adventure on the Loop. It's nice to have stories from different perspectives.

Our AGLCA Burgee
Waiting for our return to s/v Mystic

Through our AGLCA membership, we have access to discounts including marinas, boat supply stores, and rental cars. The website has a classified ads link where members can list their vessel, sell charts, boat accessories, clothes and electronics. AGLCA offers annual gatherings where Loopers meet and make connections with other cruisers where they can participate in workshops about Looping topics.

The greatest benefit of AGLCA for us is the connection we have with other Loopers. We know that the group is there, at all times, for reference and support. Members are only a message away. AGLCA Harbor Hosts are available throughout the Loop. They offer local navigational tips, make recommendations for restaurants and marinas and often take visitors to town for reprovisioning.

When we left for our Great Loop adventure, we had no idea we would still be Looping a year into the trip. Our Alberg 35, Mystic, is on the hard in St. Augustine Florida until hurricane season ends. We plan to return to Florida soon to resume our journey. We plan to head south to take a side trip to the Keys and Bahamas before completing our Loop by cruising up to New York City then through the Erie Canal and back to the Great Lakes. We'll be AGLCA members, at least, until we earn the Gold Burgee which signifies crossing our wake (completing the circle), at St. Ignace, Michigan. Some Loopers complete the Loop in under a year. We will be one of the boats on the multi-year plan; they call us Sloopers! We aren't in any hurry. If there is one thing we've learned on this trip, it's; "go fast enough to get there, but slow enough to see!" Jimmy Buffett

Mystic flying the AGLCA burgee