Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Sailing

I have often at night, leaned over the ship’s side and for a long time watched the phosphorescent spangles that seemed to dance upon the sea, as it has been agitated by our progress over the depths… Around the bow, along the side, and in the wake of the ship, the sea seems to be on fire. Countless spangles emerge from the troubled waters, while brilliant phosphorescent flashes and globes of light of great size, illuminate the ship’s path.
—Francis Olmsted, “Incidents of a Whaling Voyage”

10) Tropical Sailing
Atlantic Ocean, December–January 1844

A) Smooth Sailing
The next few days bring clear weather, and represent tropical sailing at its best. During the day, the breeze keeps the ship cool, and occasional dolphins—invariably called porpoises by the sailors—chase and frolic around the ship. (The term “dolphin” is usually reserved for the fish called “mahi-mahi” in the Pacific and “dorado” in the Atlantic.) At night, the warm seas churn with a phosphorescence whose brightness is unmatched in higher latitudes. Occasional schools of flying fish leap across the waves, and morning often finds a small bounty of these bizarre creatures stranded on deck. Only the hot, humid nights are discomforting, and many sailors find it difficult to sleep in the airless interior of the ship. Some even take to sleeping in whaleboats.

B) Making Spun Yarn
One laborious activity well underway by the time the Quiddity reaches the tropics is the continuous manufacture of “spun yarn,” a thin substance made from shreds of old rope twisted together and smoothed over with oil. This is performed with the aid of a spinning wheel attached to one of the windlass bitts, and sometimes the yarn can stretch all the way from bow to mizzenmast. Although it’s often assigned to prevent general idleness, spinning yarn is no mere make-work. Spun yarn is used to “serve” the shrouds and stays; that is, the yarn is wrapped around these larger ropes to protect them from the friction of the running rigging. Sailors also make mats by shuttling spun yarn across a wooden loom.

C) Fishing
Fishing is a poplar diversion for sailors, especially in these warmer latitudes. It’s frequently accomplished by trailing a “cod line” ending in a hook, the impaled piece of pork greased with “slush” to make it more attractive. Two popular fish are the albacore and the bonito, which sailors call the “skip jack.” Because these fish often leap after smaller flying fish, sailors sometimes improvise a fly-type lure by tying a white handkerchief onto a hook and skimming it along the water under the bowsprit. The larger albacore is preferred, and requires two or three men to haul onboard. The smaller skip jack is easier to catch, but easier to lose—a very energetic fish, as described by Francis Olmsted, “they sometimes shake so hard as to shake their own heads off.” The sailors enjoy dining on fresh fish, but they also save their catches in salted barrels. These are then traded with natives in the Pacific Islands.

If the Keeper would like to include fishing as a diversion, a successful Survival roll catches 1D4 fish, with Hard and Extreme successes increasing the number and size of the bounty.

D) Unusual Events
If the Keeper would like to spice up the tropics, a few interesting events may occur. These can be spaced throughout the next few encounters, all the way to the Forties.

The Flaming Medusa
One of the phosphorescent creatures in these waters is a species of medusa jellyfish the sailors erroneously refer to as “sea cucumbers.” (An actual sea cucumber is a type of sea-floor echinoderm also known as the bêche-de-mer.) Occasionally rough weather tosses one of these jellyfish on deck, where, in the words of Olmsted, it “rolls down to leeward like a fire-ball.”

The Sea Pig
Hungry for “fresh grub,” some sailors enjoy catching and eating porpoise. At one point, a harpooneer may position himself on the martingale guy under the bowsprit and attempt to harpoon a passing porpoise. (Quakaloo is certainly a candidate here, but anyone is welcome to try!) Once the animal is speared, it’s hauled on board and slaughtered. The blubber is stripped and rendered, usually producing 1-2 gallons of oil. The lower jaw is especially rich, and this is tried-out separately, producing a fine grade of oil used to lubricate watches and other delicate machinery. The remainder of the “sea pig” is eaten. The liver and tongue are particular delicacies, while the oily steaks are considered serviceable by sailors long deprived of fresh meat. One popular dish consists of flippers flavored with the creature’s brains!

Loggerhead Turtles
Another tropical delight are sea turtles, called “logger-head turtles” by the sailors. Occasionally seen swimming near the ship, a boat may be dispatched with the sole purpose of harpooning a creature right through the shell. Unlike porpoise meat, turtle is universally considered delicious. The white meat is often compared to chicken breast, and it makes an excellent soup. 

White Leviathan, Chapter 2—Atlantic Ocean
[Back to Encounter 9: Star and Squall | White Leviathan TOC | Forward to Encounter 11, Crossing the Line]

Author: A. Buell Ruch
Last Modified: 26 March 2022
Email: quail (at) shipwrecklibrary (dot) com
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