Alone Against the Atlantic

by Gerry Spiess, Gerald F. Spiess

Speiss, a Minnesota schoolteacher who planned and worked for six years to build the small sailboat that would carry him alone across the Atlantic Ocean, chronicles his preparations, frustrations, hardships, and achievement

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Adventure

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1981

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nautical adventures aren't really my thing, but, this was good for what it was.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun adventure read! Amateur boat builder designs and builds a 10ft long sailboat out of plywood in his Minnesota garage and then sails it 3,287 nautical miles from Virginia to England in 53 days. What's not to like?

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the plaque along White Bear Lake about the "Yankee Girl" and Gerry Spiess. It is close to the beach in Matoska Park near the parking area by Manitou Island. After getting the book at the library, I found this to be a fascinating account of building and testing his ten foot yacht, first on White Bear Lake, then eventually in the Atlantic Ocean. Challenges include working against the weather, rogue waves, various sea creatures, and maybe more concerning was being wet with salt water for long periods. Then to be greeted by whales, which could quite easily topple a small boat, or find an ocean going freighter bearing down without them knowing or seeing you. Scary stuff out of his control. Quite a moving ending with all the people showing up in the England port of Falmouth, greeted by his wife, his parents, KSTP TV reporter, Jason Davis (of "On the Road" fame), cameraman, and a "few" (hundreds?) others. Spiess also crossed the Pacific from California to Sydney Australia a few years later (1981) and died in 2019. Now, I want to see his boat, apparently on display at Minnesota Historical Society (when museums open again post pandemic).

[Mark McTague · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would you do the following? Design and build your own 12-foot sailboat in your garage out of 3/4-inch plywood, cover it with fiberglass cloth/polyester resin, and then sail it alone across the Atlantic from Virginia to England? Probably not. Facing the North Atlantic ocean for up to 60 days, alone and with no one to help you if things suddenly went very badly, would stop me cold even before I got to the enormous amount of necessary planning (the sheer number of calculations to make and information and material to amass regarding weather, ocean currents, shipping channels, food, clothing, medicine, emergency materials, etc.). No, I simply wouldn't do it. It seems almost suicidal. Yet one man did, and this is the remarkable story of his achievement. It also exemplifies what Laurence Gonzales ("Deep Survival") says are some of the keys to surviving extreme situations - staying as calm as possible, accepting your situation, and being mentally and emotionally open to two things one doesn't associate with mortal threats -feeling gratitude and appreciating the stark and sometimes terrible beauty of this enormous world. A great weekend read.

[Jennifer Morefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story very much, but I couldn't help thinking why in the world would someone ever put himself through such a difficult and trying journey? The first 2 weeks of his sojourn was just plain traumatic. Being not an adventurous soul, I guess I just didn't understand. He learned many things and enjoyed many parts of the trip eventually, and it was amazing that one man could sail a 10 ft. boat across the Atlantic; however, he also was miserable during a lot of the trip.

[Ginny Thurston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting true story that is not only suspenseful but inspiring. It would be a great read for middle schoolers and for readers of all ages. Gary Spiess just died in 2019... his wife is still living! She should get credit for being such a supportive and patient wife!

[Beau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! The homecoming welcome will bring tears to your eyes! Being from Minnesota, I want to visit Spiess and marvel at his Yankee Girl!

[Jeffrey David Montanye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the adventure.

[Dodge Lover! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!
I found it at an estate sale in a readers digest book.
Andy ways five stars from me, Loved the adventure!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love modern seafaring true stories, and this did not disappoint. I just found out Mr Spiess passed away in 2019 from complications from Parkinson’s.

[Madhusudan Chokhra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adventurous account of an enchanting voyage across Atlantic in a 10 feet boat. All the challenges both by sea and psychological were triumphed over, to reach the destination in England.

[Jason G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredible story. Not the greatest writing, but the journey is remarkable enough that it doesn't matter.

[Frank DeGree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What great honor this brings to the city of white bear lake. Go bears

[Katie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for everyone, sailors and non-sailors alike, but full of the funny little things that I as a small dinghy sailor can relate to. I laughed, cried, worried and cheerd with the author through the book.

[Monica]

I meet this local(Minnesota)author by chance the other day and found out he had written this book and am very excited to read it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a greatly written book but an incredible story!

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing recount of a solo voyage across the Altantic in a sailboat. Many close encounters with death.

[Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 10' sloop for a solo Atlantic trip? Wow. Guy was nuts. Read in one day while is snowed outside in Sedona, AZ. Yay for vacation!

[Brock Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's healthy I think to read of things people do that stretch my imagination. I couldn't imagine doing this before reading this book.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of a man who travels solo across the Atlantic Ocean to England in a 10 foot boat.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alone Against the Atlantic, Gerry Spiess, Martin Bree, @ 1981, RDC-M V 2 1982, 10,87. The authors account of his sailing alone in the Atlantic Ocean. Okay.

[David Mattson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read from a sailor from Minnesota covering the construction of his ship and his arrival at his destination. Mr. Spiess clearly shows his knowledge of building a ship (Yankee Girl). This book is especially descriptive. As I read, I had the distinct feeling that I was there with him on his journey. I recommend this book to you for your consideration.