I've known and sung this song for many a year now but never understood the last two lines of the first verse:
'With the ring-tail set all about the mizzen peak'
'And a dolphin striker plowin' up the deep'
Can any knowledgable (and probably nautical)'catters tell me what a ring-tail and a dolphin striker are (or were).
Aso, anyone know the songs history/origins?

Much obliged for any responses

Regards

Andy