I was on a train to Manhattan on a summer Tuesday when Jacquie Albina and I began texting. Twenty-four hours later I was sitting in the salon of her 25-foot Rosborough, docked in the tiny town of Brewerton, New York—just a day’s cruise from Oswego and Lake Ontario. That encounter is just one small example of her take-things-as-they-come personality, an approach that has served her well on the first 1,600 miles of a Great Loop journey that began in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
But in many ways, her undertaking of the Great Loop on an outboard-powered 25-footer began when she was just a child.
“I was born and raised in The Bahamas by an old salt,” says Jacquie. “If he didn’t have water around him, he was not happy. I was dragged through the islands as a child every summer on some boat or another with my sister. My dad didn’t have any sons, so his two girls had to learn to do just about everything on the boat—from crawling down between big diesel engines and turning wrenches where he couldn’t fit, to cleaning fish, to… everything, everything. At a very young age, I can remember taking the dogs ashore in the dinghy. It’s always been a salty life for me.”
One of the first boats Jacquie, her sister, parents, and three large dogs traveled the islands aboard was a 25-foot Bertram. The family would later grow into a 28-foot Chris-Craft, then a 48-foot motorsailer with the mast removed. That boat, she says, “was luxury.”
Everything she needs and nothing she doesn’t: Albina’s 25 Rosborough is as cozy as it is seaworthy.
Growing up, she was a true water rat—canoeing to meet up with friends, lobstering, and conching. She recalls during her waterskiing phase that she and her friends carried spare shear pins at all times. “We broke a lot of them,” she says with a smile.
When adulthood found her, she had immigrated from the Bahamas to the United States. After a brief hiatus from the water, she returned as a sailor, racing a Hobie Cat. It was on that boat that she baptized her daughter, Kelsey, into the world of boating, taking her out while she was still in diapers. From there she moved on to a Grady-White and then a 15-foot Boston Whaler. At that point, Jacquie began thinking about retirement and wanted something with more livability, which led her to the 25-foot Rosborough. She laughs when I tease her about the fact that her retirement was still 13 years away. “Yeah, there’s nothing like being prepared for retirement. It was a long way off, but I wanted to make sure I had something to take back to The Bahamas or Keys.”
When asked how her smaller Rosborough is faring on this trip, it’s clear Jacquie has a lot of love for—and pride in—her little ship that’s carried her through every kind of sea state.
“Now, you’ve got to remember most people that buy a boat are a couple, so there are two voices about what’s the best boat for the Great Loop,” she says. “And me? I’m also the mechanic and engineer, so I don’t want the fluff and luxuries because that’s just more to fix. It’s got to be a compromise between comforts and less time fixing stuff. I have two side doors, she’s sturdily constructed, and she has (twin Yamaha) outboards. I mean, there’s just nothing better. I’ve got a microwave, TV, shower—she’s got everything you need to do the Loop. And I can have one guest. I tell them their max limit is one week, then they’ve got to get off—there’s just not enough room for more than that.”
To hear Jacquie talk about what many consider the trip of a lifetime with the casualness reserved for errands like running to the grocery store, you’d think every aspect of her life had been adventurous.
“I think most people would hear your story and think your day job must have been something pretty epic,” I said, sitting on the salon bench seat.
“Not so much,” she laughs. “The IRS. I was a CPA for many, many years, but when my daughter got older I didn’t want to work such long hours. I also wanted to give back to this country for letting me in. I worked there for 20 years. I didn’t even have to give my notice because everyone I worked with knew it was my plan to do the Great Loop. There’s just more to life than work. I don’t live an expensive lifestyle, so I could make it work.”
That’s how, on February 15, at 62 years young, Jacquie began her Great Loop adventure. When I met her in June, she was 2,517 miles into her journey. Her plan was to complete the Loop in one continuous trip, finishing in December.
What’s surprised her most about the Loop—besides the rich history of so many of the small towns she’s stopped in—has been the sense of community she’s found along the way.
“You meet a lot of people in the locks because you’re all kind of going the same speed and there are limited places to stop, so you see them again at marinas. Everyone is so helpful and supportive of each other, and everyone starts in different places. Some people aren’t used to salt water, others are new to the Great Lakes—so there’s a lot of information sharing.”
Of the many great places she’s visited along the way, she says her most memorable stop was the day she anchored beneath the Statue of Liberty.
“Especially as an immigrant—you have Ellis Island on one side and then the Statue—I thought to myself, ‘I’m really fortunate that they let me into this country, and here I sit.’”
Following Jacquie’s private Facebook group that chronicles her journey, it’s clear many are inspired by her intrepid spirit and pursuit of this personal goal. But she’s quick to point out that she never set out to inspire others—this was just the next cruise in a lifetime spent on the water. Still, I can’t help but ask what advice she has for others who might be dreaming of a solo Loop.
“Just get out of your comfort zone sometimes,” she says. “You can’t just keep waiting to do it ‘someday.’ So many people say, well, I have to wait for this or I’ve got to wait for that, and then they never go. But as far as tips go, there’s so much information available through AGLCA (America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association). I know the entire thing can feel intimidating, but the Loop is really just a lot of day trips strung together.”
At the time of this writing, Jacquie was nestled into a small marina in New Johnsonville, Tennessee. Since our meeting, she’s encountered swarms of dragonflies, spotted majestic wildlife on land and sea, met dozens of strangers-turned-friends, and visited forts, museums, bars, and restaurants. She’s taken countless pictures of fellow Loopers who’ve returned the favor—including one capturing an incredible shot of her and her beloved Rosborough beneath the St. Louis Arch, also known as the Gateway to the West. It’s pure inspiration, a refreshing addition to a social media platform so often filled with vitriol and politics.
It doesn’t take long for Jacquie Albina to make a lasting impression. Gregarious and friendly, with what many would consider a small and somewhat spartan outboard cruiser, she has an inspiring spirit that’s filled with gratitude. Gratitude for a home afloat, for the friends she’s made, even for the obstacles she’s faced along the way. She’s a great reminder that when it comes to the Great Loop—and life—you need to work with what you have and, as she says, “just go.”
Watch Dan’s interview with Jacquie here >>
This article originally appeared in the December 2025 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
