Drowning Sailor

 

Graphite pencil and spray paint on a 161 cm x 55 cm broken but recycled surfboard. 

 

In the olden days sailors couldn’t actually swim, as that would ‘draw out’ their drowning if the ship went down.

 

If the bodies of drowned sailors are buried with a seagull their ghost will be laid to rest, as the bird’s spirit will guide their soul to the next world.

 

A curious custom in Cornwall graveyards was the setting up of the Figurehead of a wrecked vessel over the grave of her drowned sailors but many of the wooden figures rotted away so there is not much evidence of this these days.

 

This board was exhibited at various London and Bristol Surf Shows.