Sailor Skills
Have you thought about what it would be like to live at sea? Sailors had unique lives of camaraderie, hard work and song.
This Family Day you can learn to do things the sailor way. On Monday February 21 at 10:30 a.m., join us on Zoom for a 1-hour virtual Family Day celebration, Sailor Skills. You’ll have fun learning about the skills a 19th-century sailor needed to keep everything ship-shape at sea.
Tool time
Your sailor skills journey begins with a look at the tools sailors used in their daily life above and below deck. To navigate at sea, sailors had to know how to use many different tools including:
- chronometer
- sextant
- telescope
Sailors also had to be able to repair the ship while they were out at sea. Some repairs needed special tools such as:
- sailor’s palm
- fid
They also had to make measurements with specialized tools like lead lines.
Sailor’s Knot Craft
Next up is a lesson in one of most important skills for a sailor: tying knots. Sailors used many different knots in their work, and they used their knowledge of knots to make braceletsfor loved ones. Learn this sailor skill and have a bracelet you can keep or give to a friend. To make a knotted bracelet you will need:
- scissors
- a pair of round shoelaces or any other round type of cord (macrame cord or jute rope)
Sea Shanty Sing-along
Your sailor skills experience will close with a sing-a-long. Singing was an important part of a sailor’s life. When a ship’s crew sang together, they would also work in time with one another, which made every job go a little more smoothly. You’ll learn the classic sea shanty, “Chicken on a Raft.”
Date/Time
Monday, February 21 at 10:30 a.m.
Place
This virtual event is hosted on Zoom. You will receive login details via Zoom after you’ve booked your tickets.
Tickets
FREE– registration is required.
If you have questions or have difficulty signing up, please email programs@vanmaritime.com.