The Great Loop
Challenge 2026
The Great Loop is a continuous circuit of eastern North America: up the Atlantic seaboard, through the Great Lakes, down the inland rivers, and back around Florida.
On 8 August 2026, Captain Scott “Red” Flowers took on the challenge, rallying supporters to help fund safer, more effective treatments for children battling cancer.
“Hefring’s IMAS is one of those ‘don’t leave it on the dock’ products. It will become your best friend.”
Captain Scott “Red” Flowers
Great Loop Challenge 2026
Follow the journey
A full replay of the Great Loop Challenge 2026. Powered by IMAS.
The challenge in numbers
Every figure below was recorded on-board by IMAS, from the first mile to the last.
- 7,236mi
- Distance
- 20
- Days
- 297
- Hours underway
- 362mi
- Daily average
- 21.2kn
- Average speed
- 247,940
- Impacts logged
Total distance covered
9 August to 29 August
Engine hours recorded
Across 20 days of the challenge
Topping out at 51.5 kn
33,429 of them classed as slams
Records along the route
- Fastest day
- 609 mi
- Top speed
- 51.5 kn
- Roughest slam
- 8.0 g
- Longest stint
- 13h 47m
The most miles covered in a single day, on 20 August.
The fastest moment of the entire loop, on 11 August.
Recorded on the run from Montréal to Catawba Island.
310 mi run without a stop, on 15 August.
How the miles were run
The journey one day at a time: how far, how fast, and how hard the water hit back.
Distance covered each day
The miles put behind the boat on every day of the loop.
Distance by speed
How the total distance splits across speed ranges, in knots.
Max impact each day
The single hardest slam IMAS logged on each day underway.
Impacts logged in each g-force range
Every impact grouped by g-force.
Leg by leg
The full route broken down into its major legs.
| Leg | From | To | Distance (mi) | Time | Avg speed (kn) | Max g | Slams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg 1 | DeLand | Wrightsville Beach | 563 | 21h 16m | 23.0 | 4.7 | 1,160 |
| Leg 2 | Wrightsville Beach | Portland | 956, highest of all legs | 34h 15m, highest of all legs | 24.2 | 5.4 | 1,947 |
| Leg 3 | Portland | Halifax | 434 | 21h 6m | 17.9 | 4.4 | 890 |
| Leg 4 | Halifax | Rimouski | 769 | 32h 54m | 20.3 | 7.5 | 12,885, highest of all legs |
| Leg 5 | Rimouski | Montréal | 336 | 11h 33m | 25.3 | 4.0 | 21 |
This report is powered by IMAS, the Intelligent Marine Assistance System
“IMAS gave me a huge sense of peace out there, knowing I had another set of eyes with me. The system was always spot on, and it was amazing how accurate it was about the sea conditions ahead.”
Captain Scott “Red” Flowers
Great Loop Challenge 2026
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