On September 18, 2026, captains Dustin Kidd and Marc Crutcher completed the fastest publicly documented Great Loop journey in history, departing Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River on September 6, 2026, at 1:14pm and arriving back in just 11 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes. The pair completed the journey on a 2027 Highfield Sport 800 RIB powered by twin Yamaha 200hp outboards, with the journey sponsored by Highfield Boats and Yamaha. The RIB, named White Lightening, beat the previous Great Loop Record of 12 days, 18 hours and 10 minutes, set in 2025 by Peter Hajas and crew on Lady Lor.
The captains reported that route selection, extended fuel capacity, two-person helm rotation, night-running electronics and the Highfield Sport 800 platform were central to their successful run, requiring less horsepower (and therefore fewer fuel stops) to achieve the same performance.
“The Great Loop tests every part of a boat and every part of a crew. White Lightning gave us the combination of strength, performance and versatility we needed, while the twin Yamaha 200s delivered the power and confidence to keep moving. Crossing our wake at Kentucky Dam was an unforgettable moment,” says Capt. Kidd.
To learn more, visit greatlooprecord.site and highfieldboats.com.
