Cruising Music for the Helm/Watch

[CaptHead]

What music do you prefer to listen to while you are on watch/helm during the night watches?

Up beat rock, jazz, R&B, easy stuff, hard heavy metal, country, Island music, or classic?

Do you listen to music?

Do you like it silent?

How do you stay awake and pass the time?

[swagman]

Hi Matey,
If just double handed and Sues asleep - nix. I prefer to read using a red dimmed headlight to pass away the hours - and think ears are almost as useful at night as your eyes for watchkeeping.
But then race crewed and going for it - nothing beats heavy rock (my favourite is Pink Floyd / Dogs of War) to keep everyone pumped up and trimming.
Cheers
JOHN

[Stillraining]

I could see the Pink Floyd during racing which I have never done by the way..

I have sailed a few times at night years ago here in Puget sound but with zero blue water experiance have really no clue about that nor need to here...as we have found an anchorage well before dark..my gut tells me I would want silence and my ears as radar though.

Day time boating is all we do and aboard we really like the Pan flute music from Peru..it is hands down our favorite...with in raido reception christian rock is easy listing as is country...some good classical is nice now and again as long as its not the type that fades to nothing and then blasts you...that gives me about as bad a head as rap.
When things really pipe up I dont want any music on though..the wind is my music then...

[Southern Star]

I'm with Swagman - your hearing is extremely important when sailing in the dark. Countless boats/lives have been saved because of the sound of breaking waves on a shoal/reef that is not accurately reflected on your charts (digital or paper), to say nothing of being able to hear approaching ships. Yes, you could have your radar on, but I generally don't waste the electrical draw unless it is foggy, or I am in the shipping lanes.

Brad

[svHyLyte]

The boys are right. I realize you're in a power-boat so your hearing is already compromised by engine noise, but music has been shown to have a very deleterious effect on attention and focus which are crucial to keeping proper watch. Plot you positions regularly, check your instruments and gauges, sweep the horizon with your eyes every few minutes, check your radar etc., do a walk-about on deck to ensure all is secure and then start the process over. There's no shortage of things to do while standing a watch, particularly if you're near shore, which you will be with a 42' trawler in SoCal.

FWIW...

[skatastrophy]

Books "on tape" for me

[imagine2frolic]

Illare, Hawaiin Slack guitar, Johnny & Santos...Sleep walk, Isreal Kamakawiwo 'Ole, Andrea Bocelli.....Sogno.....Along these lines.......i2f