Sea shanties are work songs that helped sailors pull together. They also helped keep up the spirits of the men, particularly after hours of hard work. This movie shows how coordinating pulling makes for more effective work, and it notes that shanties help coordinate pulling by providing a rhythm. We are assisted in this movie by the second graders of Lincolnville Central School. Thanks!
Hauling up the yard with the halyard took a lot of strength and coordination on a large sailing ship. To help get everyone to haul together, sailors used sea shanties, or work songs of the sea. We demonstrate on Penobscot Marine Museum's Yard-in-the-Yard demonstration model how to raise the sail with the yard to which it is attached. We are assisted by the second grade class at Lincolnville Central School. Thanks!
We demonstrate how a capstan works pulling up an anchor or hauling in any other line. The Hyde Windlass Company capstan at Penobscot Marine Museum is similar to that used on many Down Easters in the late nineteenth century.
