Hi Matthew, just to add to Susan's comment on Mystic in early June, you'd be hard pressed to find better or even an equal anywhere. Get a mudcat Tee-shirt, they're usually a few of us there.

As to "Chanty" coming from the the french to sing or chant, the debate will probably never stop. I'd say on guessing that there's a strong possiblily of it coming from the West Indian tradition. They've been singing to the moving of their shanties (houses) for a very long time & it's possible they've influenced the world of shantydom far greater & longer than most have in the past given them credit for.

Yo Ho Ho ..... was originally a 4 line song by Robert Louis Stevenson for Treasure Island called "Cap'n Billy Bones his Song". Young Ewing Allison worked this into a six verse song calling it "A Piratical Ballad" & later calling it "Derelict". The Dead Man's Chest refers to a Caribbean island reef. If you'd like the six verses let me know & I'll post them. (from S. Frank's 'The Book Of Pirate Songs'.

Besides the New York (South St Seaport) & San Francisco (Hyde St Pier) shanty sings there's another I believe in DC or Baltimore run by KC King.

Jets, I also read Wooden Boats 'Foc's'le' on shanties & replied, as of yet they haven't published my comments. Barry