Alcatraz Race (Port Of Oakland, Jim Putz as the coxwain) with a Tall Ship under the Golden Gate Bridge in the background

150 years ago sailing ships crossed the seas to ports all over the world to unload their various cargo. Layovers could last much longer than the sailors' money, so the various ships' crews set up races among themselves to pass the time while in port ...

and that's how whaleboat racing was invented!

What did the sailors win? Possibly a bottle of grog. But have you ever heard of the expression "losing your shirt"? It originated with these races. The winning ship's crew would collect their booty by taking the defeated crew's shirts, literally right off their opponent's backs!

 

 

A modern day whaleboat racing crew consists of eight rowers, a bowhook and a coxwain (the person who steers with a 16 ft sweep oar). The coxwain's job is to know the currents and tides and steer the boat straight, the rowers pull as hard as they can and the bowhook shouts out encouragement for the entire length of the race. There are over a dozen boats in the fleet with more than 250 rowers in the San Francisco Bay Area rowing competively each year.

 

 

Whaleboats have been used for hunting whales, lifesaving operations and competition. The boat itself weighs nearly one ton, is 26 feet in length and has an 8 foot beam. Whaleboats have been built to withstand the crushing force of the ocean.

 

 

Most races today are held within protected bays but winds, currents and tides can still make for an interesting race. Modern whaleboats are based on a historic wooden design developed in a whaling village on Monomoy Island, Massachusetts, hence where the "monomoy" style of whaleboat, of which Razzle Dazzle is a prime example.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whaleboat racing is not only a Local, but a National and International sport! It is still popular in several historical ports of call such as Hull (Mass.), New York, San Francisco, Australia and New Zealand.