MANTIS WEEKEND 2026 | Sunday 11 October 2026 – “Plough the stormy seas” – Sea Shanties and the Human Condition (Online attendance)

Sea shanties are traditional work songs sung by sailors aboard large sailing ships, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. During the Age of the Sail everything depended on the wind. Navigating the oceans demanded exceptional skill, courage, and teamwork from the sailors to operate complex rigging equipment. The purpose of singing the songs was to coordinate physical labor and typically combined rhythm and storytelling to support sailors in the execution of their duties and to build camaraderie aboard the ship.