Estimated Time: 10 minutes

The brown old seaman comes in singing in a voice that was broken at the capstan bars.Have you ever heard of "capstan bars"?

A capstan is a large, vertical winch used on sailing ships to do really heavy work, like lifting the anchor or pulling in ropes or cables. It's a bit like a giant spool that sailors would turn around using long wooden levers called capstan bars. These bars would be inserted into the capstan, and then sailors would push against them, walking in a circle. It was hard work, requiring teamwork and strength, as they sang sea shanties to keep their spirits up and stay in rhythm.

The capstan and its bars were crucial for managing the ship, especially when entering or leaving harbor, and it shows us just how much effort went into sailing and exploring the seas.

What this video to learn more.

Do you think working the capstan would be a pleasant job?