Joern was born in Germany and came to the United States as a young man, settling in Fairfield County, For 40+ years, he specialized in the business of Ocean Transportation Dry cargo movement, including 30 years with his own Company Alpha Chartering Inc in Greenwich CT, which he closed in 2008. The business provided initial brokerage mediating between Ship Owner and Commodity interest as well as Ship Management Ship Investment.

Joern’s hobby also took him on the water, sailing in the Caribbean with family as well as in the Baltic in Europe. He also has enjoyed long distance sailing such as Newport RI to Bermuda, Long Island to St Maarten and small motor boating on the Long Island Sound.

The Great Loop

The Great Loop is a continuous 6,000- Nautical mile waterway journey that circumnavigates the eastern United States and part of Canada using protected rivers, canals, and coastal channels. It follows a seasonal counterclockwise path through the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Great Lakes, and inland rivers.

Joern and his wife Regina did the loop over two summers and will share with us their amazing trip to see our country, and its inhabitants, close up, from the water.

Route and Schedule

  • Spring: Head north up from Florida on the Atlantic coast and through the Chesapeake Bay.
  • Summer: Cruise the Hudson River and New York canals into the Great Lakes and Canadian heritage waterways.
  • Fall: Travel south from Chicago down the inland rivers (such as the Ohio River, Mississippi, and Tennessee-Tombigbee) toward the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Winter: Arrive in Florida and the Gulf Coast to avoid cold northern weather.
  • Distance: Traveled 6,732 Statute miles and 256 days on board.
  • Time: Average of 9 to 12 months to complete a full trip, though many do it in parts over multiple years.
  • Locks: Passage through more than 150 locks.
  • Vessels: Most commonly completed on motor yachts or trawlers (30–50 feet), but possible in smaller craft (with clearance adjustments up to 21 feet).
  • Guidance: Looper Organization guided and supported by America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association.