Sailors had one tough 'ob. They were to sail quickly across the Atlantic, explore new, un-chartered regions, survive brutal storrns which they had no warning of, stay healthy and avoid diseases, and work on a crowded ship. It is something most people wouldn't do; however, sailors have been plentiful throughout history.

The life of a sailor was truly as bad as it appears in movies. The crew lived in the forecastle-an area below the deck and near the bow of the ship-and often slept on hammocks, nets, or the floor. Some made their beds on bales of hay or slept on furs from India. Officers were provided with private quarters in the back (stem) of the ship about the size of a present-day bathroom. There was no bathroom, washing facilities, or showers: the ship stank because of the perspiration caused by humidity in the tropics or because of the smells produced while wearing all their clothing to stay wann in the north.

The clothes of sailors varied with their destination. In cold weather, they'd wear a knit hat and-if they were lucky-some wool pants. Even rarer to find were shoes; if a sailor did have these, then they probably wouldn't have socks. In general, the clothes consisted of baggy trousers drooping to the knees and ragged shirts. Every sailor who thought himself a sailor had a belt to carry a knife and a marlin-spike while working aloft on the rigging.

Sailing for four watches could make anyone tired and hungry. Not incredibly hungry though, because the food of sailors was fairly gross. In calm weather, stew or gruel could be fixed. However, in stormy weather the deck couldn't be utilized to cook food; it was impossible to cook hot food; hard tack-a stiff bread of flour and salt (often with worms)-and salted meat had to suffice. Rum could sometimes be found along with tea and water. This poor diet lacked vitamin C, and many sailors had scurvy.

All of these sacrifices had to be made up somewhere. Relaxation was rare and gave you the label of a slacker: good sailors were always sleeping or working. Knot tying contests were held while spinning oakum fibers to caulk the deck, chanties were sung, scrimshaws were carved, and stories were told to pass the working time. The most favored activity was getting drunk and telling legends.

Sailing was a job, just like any other. Thus, shifts-watches-needed to be assigned to ensure a smooth voyage. The watch billet was a list posted in a conspicuous spot (like at a chart house) that gave the sailors jobs best suited to their skills. The port and starboard shifts alternated every four hours. The dog watch was the cream filling in a Twinkie for sailors. The first and second watch were two hours each, thus ensuring the sailors that they wouldn't serve the same stint the next day.

It was rare for a sailor to have a watch or a time piece. All time was kept by time sand time pieces in glasses. Every half hour, the -lass was turned and the bell was struck. The tired sailors eagerly waited for the eight bells that would send them to their quarters.

Sea Charities ( also spelled chanteys, chantys, shanties, shantys, shantees, or shanteys) have been used by sailors throughout time for many purposes. While the crew would work on various tasks around the boat, they would sing to synchronize and give rhythm to their somewhat mundane tasks. They also provided a nice way to relax and keep spirits up.

The mid-nineteenth century was the heyday for chanteying. Square-rigged vessels required the most work out of all the ships: they had one-ton anchors, were made of wood which constantly leaked, and had enormous sails that needing raising. The days of Clipper ships also boosted chanteying to new heights. Their job was crossing the Atlantic; speed was essential because packages needed to be delivered in three weeks or less. This created a need for efficiency and teamwork. By singing a song to keep rhythm, tasks could be completed in less time. The saving, "One man sin-ing is worth ten on a line" had its origins here. Some people say that the songs originated from New Orleans by African-Americans working on cotton wharves. Others say they started in the West Indies and were spread by visiting sailors. Whatever the exact reason, they basically started with the different sounds of blending songs at ports. Every sailor brought his own background of legends, folk tales, and stories which were combined into songs.

Sailors used all kinds of instruments to accompany their songs. Traditionally, guitars, violins, fiddles, banjos, and concertinas-accordions-were used. However, Zodiacers-being the original, creative, and stoutly people they are can use just about anything. Harmonicas, sticks, pots, pans, sunscreen bottles, combs, bongos, kazoos, rocks, trumpets, rattles, and ukeleles are game to be used.

These were used only when a single heave or a few hard pulls were necessary. They were often used when removing slack from halyards.

Examples: "Haul Away Joe" and "The Bosun's Alphabet"

These were used for pulling jobs which were too long and prolonged for the Short Haul. Hauling the main sails, securing the anchor, or pumping the ships used these songs.

Examples: "Blow the Man Down" and "Whiskey Johnny"

These are long, rolling songs for the jobs that require continuous effort, such as hoisting the anchor. (The capstan is a barrel-like structure with wooden horizontal bars that fit the anchor chain like spokes of a wheel.)

Examples: "Shenandoah" and "Good Bye Fare-Ye-Well"

In this lesson the sailing class will learn about types of charities, when they are used, and what they are used for. We will teach you two charities, "Blow the Man Down" and "The Bosun's Alphabet." You are the accompaniment. These charities will come in handy when working around the Zodiac. Be sure to get your crewmates singing with you you'll have the work done in no time. During the trip, try to think up a tune to "Haul Away Joe" or "Drunken Sailor." On Sunday morning, during our final sail raising, we'll ask you to sing the songs.

After learning these new songs, you get to make up a chantey about your voyage on the ship, something you have seen, or life in the Northwest. Here are starting prompts that don't have to be used:

"My feet are growing mold,

the weather is so cold

This ship..."

-or-

"The birds of the ocean lilt me to sleep, the anchor of the boat reaches to the deep, the polar bear swim..."