The correct answer was C - Assisting manual work
Sea shanties were work songs, devised to accompany particular actions or tasks on board ship. They could help keep time among groups of sailors, coordinate physical movements like hauling ropes and raising sails, and relieve the boredom of long, repetitive tasks.
What to see a real sea shanty in action? Take part in this year's Cutty Sark Sea Shanty Festival on 21 November, free for Cutty Sark ticket holders.
