don't forget that the 'age of sail' was also a time when your *AVERAGE* woman probably spent a great deal of her day 'heaving and hauling' something or other.

and if "official" sources document as many as 20 women who served - I'll bet there were a good many more that either are NOT documented, were covered up; or were never discovered "officially".

Again - it may not have been common - but it *did* occur - enough that it made an intrigueing subject.

And I don't know about the women of your acquaintence - but I know more then a few who would deck me if I suggested they were incapable of performing the work aboard a ship.