A Nantucket Sleigh Ride

The crew fail to catch a whale at the first sighting. A few days later a sperm whale is harpooned and you take your first “Nantucket sleigh ride” – your whaleboat is dragged behind the whale at speeds of up to 23 mph (37 kmh). This weakens the whale until it lies exhausted on the surface.

The boatsteerer then spears it with his ‘killing lance’. The dying whale’s spout turns red with blood and the crew cries out “chimney’s afire”.

ROW STEADY
With the boatsteerer at the prow of the boat, you approach the floating whale.

GIVE IT TO HIM!
The boatsteerer takes aim and throws the harpoon into the side of the whale.

SLEIGH RIDE
With the harpoon firmly embedded in the whale, the boat is towed behind it.

THE KILL
The boatsteerer pierces the whale’s vital organs with a hand lance to kill it.

CHIMNEY’S AFIRE!
Bleeding heavily, the dying whale exhales a fountain of blood and water.

BLOODY WORK
You have helped to kill your first whale. It is bloody and dangerous work.

DEADLY WEAPONS

Toggle Harpoon

Harpoons and lances were used to catch and kill whales.

One-flued Harpoon

Hand Lance

HANDY HINT
Left, keep clear of the harpoon line when the “sleigh ride” begins. You could get rope burns or be dragged overboard by the whale.

Based on the book, You Wouldn't Want to Sail on a 19th-Century Whaling Ship!
Copyright 2004 - the Salariya Book Company