EDIT 4.18.19
A tribute song was written in 1991 about Mr. Spiess’ epic journey with Yankee Girl by The Captain & Squire Hogg. Take a listen to the song “Yankee Girl circa 1991.”
Yankee Girl (1991)
Lyrics by Adam Simon
Music by Howard Segal and David Sax
We wrote and recorded this song in 1991 after learning of Gerry Spiess’ epic 1979 solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean . We were inspired by Mr. Spiess’ courage and determination. He not only built his 10-foot sailing vessel Yankee Girl, he successfully sailed her alone across the Atlantic Ocean in a time far before GPS and other technologies. As recreational sailors who ply the waters mainly of Lake Michigan, we have great respect for his story. This original version features verses in 7/8 time and choruses in 4/4 time, to echo the choppy and unpredictable nature of his voyage. We hope to recreate a new version of this song in the near future. The story continues to inspire us, our love for sailing, and our respect for sailors like Gerry Spiess.
Song Lyrics:
Sail across the ocean. Sail across the sea. A 10-foot boat and just one man. Making history.
The water carries, carries me away. The winds are blowing, that’s all you’ve got to say.
A lone man going down to White Bear Lake. His Yankee Girl below him, and both their lives at stake.
He built her one summer out of nails glue and wood. She’s only 10 feet long.
He’s taking that girl across the sea, that’s why we sing this song.
He took his girl down to Chesapeake Bay. Launched her one morning and began to float away.
Heading out toward the warm gulf stream. A storm brewed up behind them. He thought it was a dream.
The seas kicked up and tossed them both around. His Yankee Girl capsized.
He got his boat right side up, but he nearly died.
There goes the thunder. There goes the rain.
Here comes the sunshine to take away the pain.
Sail across the ocean. Sail across the sea. A ten-foot boat and just one man. Making history.
The wind starts blowing. Her sails begin to fill. The sun shines brightly to take away the chill.
The winds and current carry them along. His Yankee Girl is running free, and nothing could go wrong.
Thirty days passed as they crossed the sea, and both could see their destiny.
The Port of Falmouth came into sight- a shadow in the twilight.
They don’t want glory. They don’t want fame.
A ten-foot boat crossed the ocean, and Yankee Girl is her name.
Yankee Girl Yankee Girl. Yankee Girl is her name.
Many of you may have heard of school teacher Gerry Spiess, the Minnesota native from White Bear Lake who sailed crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 54 days and the Pacific Ocean in 153 solo, all in a small 10′ sailboat, named Yankee Girl, that he designed and built himself in his backyard!
Yankee Girl is the smallest craft to have ever crossed the Atlantic from west to east in 1979 and Spiess’ adventures are well documented across the web. BUT, did you know that our own Tom Matson, in the Bayport Marina Canvas Department, created the boat’s cover and seat cushions for Gerry Spiess’ Yankee Girl? The boat now resides as an artifact at the Minnesota Historical Society.
You can also view the blue seat cushions Tom made on the Minnesota Historical Society website here and here, and pictures of the boat and cover here!
On this website, you can read an excerpt of his travels and on Press Pubs White Bear, you can read the article “37 years after his trans-Atlantic voyage, where is Gerry Spiess?”
. Also, be sure to take a look at the pictures below!
If you would like Tom, a multi-award-winning canvas and upholstery Certified Master Fabric Craftsman, to work on YOUR boat – visit his page on our website today! Or you can reach Tom via phone: (651) 342-2264 or by email: tom@bayportmarina.com
