The Ghost Ship of the Great Lakes: New Encounters

The Griffin’s been haunting Lake Michigan for over three centuries, and she’s not done yet. Fresh sightings off Wisconsin’s coast have maritime investigators scrambling for answers about the French vessel that vanished without explanation in 1679. While skeptics dismiss these encounters as misidentified modern ships or weather phenomena, the 2018 photographs and unexplained Coast Guard tracking data suggest something’s still out there—something that shouldn’t exist.

Introduction

When maritime historians speak of ghost ships, they’re usually referring to vessels found adrift with no crew aboard—but the Great Lakes have their own spectral legend that’s haunted sailors for over three centuries. The phantom vessel known as the Griffin has captured imaginations since its disappearance in 1679. Built by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, the ship vanished during its maiden voyage on Lake Michigan, becoming North America’s first recorded Great Lakes shipwreck. Since then, countless sailors have reported seeing the Griffin’s ghostly silhouette gliding through fog banks, its tattered sails billowing without wind. These sightings haven’t stopped. Modern captains still radio in encounters with the mysterious ship, particularly during storms when visibility drops and the boundary between past and present seems to blur.

Ship’s 1679 Mysterious Disappearance

The Griffin set sail from Washington Island on September 18, 1679, loaded with valuable furs worth a fortune in 17th-century currency. Captain Luke Dalyell commanded the vessel while French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, remained ashore to continue his expeditions. The ship’s crew of six men navigated into Lake Michigan, expecting to reach Niagara within days.

They never arrived. No distress signals reached shore. No wreckage washed up on beaches. The Griffin simply vanished without explanation, becoming the Great Lakes’ first recorded shipwreck mystery. Search parties found nothing. Local Indigenous tribes reported no sightings. The ship’s disappearance sparked centuries of speculation about storms, mutiny, or Native American attacks. Despite numerous expeditions and claimed discoveries of wreckage, the Griffin’s fate remains unknown.

Notable Cases or Sightings

Three separate occasions have produced the most credible sightings of the Griffin’s ghostly return to Lake Michigan’s waters. In 1937, Captain Frank Becker reported seeing a translucent three-masted vessel matching the Griffin’s description near Sleeping Bear Dunes. His crew of six fishermen corroborated the encounter, describing how the phantom ship vanished when they’d approached within fifty yards.

September 1975 brought another documented sighting when Coast Guard personnel tracked an unidentified wooden sailing vessel on radar for twelve minutes before it disappeared without explanation. The object’s speed and trajectory couldn’t match any registered boats operating that evening.

Most recently, in 2018, multiple witnesses photographed what appeared to be a colonial-era ship during a storm off Manitowoc. Digital analysis couldn’t definitively explain the images.

Common Theories or Explanations

Why do these sightings persist across centuries? Scientists point to temperature inversions over the Great Lakes that create superior mirages—optical illusions where distant ships appear to float above the horizon. These atmospheric conditions bend light rays, making vessels seem spectral or distorted.

Historians suggest many “ghost ships” are misidentified modern vessels seen through fog banks. The lakes’ notorious weather patterns produce sudden mists that transform ordinary freighters into phantom-like silhouettes. Some researchers believe collective memory plays a role—maritime disasters become legend, and anxious sailors project these stories onto ambiguous sightings.

Psychologists note that isolation and fatigue affect perception. Long watches in monotonous conditions prime the brain to fill gaps with expected patterns. When combined with the lakes’ eerie reputation, ordinary phenomena transform into supernatural encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Safety Precautions Should Boaters Take When Sailing Near Reported Ghost Ship Areas?

Boaters should maintain updated navigation equipment, monitor weather forecasts closely, keep emergency supplies aboard, and stay alert for sudden fog banks. They’ll want to verify GPS coordinates regularly and maintain radio contact with nearby vessels.

Are There Any Guided Tours or Expeditions to Search for the Ghost Ship?

Yes, several tour companies offer ghost ship expeditions on the Great Lakes. They’ll take groups out during peak sighting seasons, equipped with sonar equipment and historical guides who share maritime legends while searching mysterious waters.

Has Any Physical Evidence or Wreckage From the Ghost Ship Been Recovered?

No physical evidence or wreckage has been recovered from the ghost ship. Despite numerous expeditions and advanced sonar searches, investigators haven’t found any debris, artifacts, or hull fragments that can be definitively linked to the vessel.

What Equipment Is Best for Documenting or Investigating Ghost Ship Encounters?

Investigators recommend marine radar, thermal imaging cameras, and hydrophones for detecting anomalies. They’ll need GPS trackers, weather monitors, and high-resolution cameras with night vision. EMF detectors and magnetometers help identify unusual electromagnetic signatures during encounters.

Are Ghost Ship Sightings More Common During Specific Weather Conditions or Seasons?

Ghost ship sightings spike dramatically during autumn storms and foggy November nights. Witnesses report they’re most frequent when temperature inversions create superior mirages over the lakes, especially during the “gales of November” period.