You've planned, prepped, and finally cast off. And then, somewhere in the first 48 hours, it hits you. Not the adventure you imagined. Something rawer, stranger, and ultimately more real than that.

There's no single "right" boat for the Great Loop. But there are smart ways to think through the decision and a few things that matter a lot more than most people expect.

This isn't a "should I do it?" post. You already know the answer to that. These five questions are about going in clear-eyed, with honest conversations had and real expectations set.

I was so sure I'd remember all of it. The names, the faces, the feeling of that one anchorage at sunset. Some of it has faded. Here's what I'd go back and write down, and what I'd tell every Looper to capture before they lose it.