Gerry Spiess Explained
| Gerry Spiess |
| Birth Name: | Gerald F. Spiess |
| Birth Date: | 24 January 1940 |
| Birth Place: | Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Pine County, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Known For: | Sailing single-handed across the Atlantic Ocean in a 10feet sailboat |
| Occupation: | School teacher |
Gerald F. Spiess (January 24, 1940 – June 18, 2019) was an American school teacher best known for having sailed his 10feet home-built sailboat Yankee Girl solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1979 and across the Pacific in 1981.[1] [2]
Sailboat construction
Spiess designed and built the boat in his garage in suburban White Bear Lake, Minnesota, from plywood. After a test launch in the local lake, Spiess transported the boat to the East Coast for launch.[3] He sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on June 1, 1979, arriving in Falmouth, England, after a 54-day Atlantic crossing.[4] [5]
Legacy
In 1991, a tribute song [6] was written about Mr. Spiess journey with Yankee Girl.
See also
Tinkerbelle, the story of a similar sailing feat in 1965.
Further reading
- Broken Seas. Bree, Marlin. 2005. Marlor Publishing.
Notes and References
- Web site: Obituary for Gerald F. 'Gerry' Spiess.
- Web site: Alone against the Atlantic: Minnesota adventurer Gerry Spiess dies at 79.
- Book: Gerry . Spiess . Marlin . Bree . Alone Against the Atlantic . Minneapolis . Control Data Publishing . 1981 . 0-89893-506-7 . 7577810.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20121103180411/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/652004382.html?dids=652004382:652004382&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+24,+1979&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=American+in+10-Foot+Boat+Crosses+N.+Atlantic+Solo&pqatl=google Los Angeles Times
- https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/25/archives/notes-on-people-honor-for-miss-tandy.html?sq=%2522Gerry%2520Spiess%2522&scp=1&st=cse New York Times
- http://www.bayportmarina.com/gerry-spiess-across-the-atlantic-and-pacific-in-a-10-sailboat-yankee-girl/ Across the Atlantic and Pacific in 10' Sailboat “Yankee Girl”!
