It's easier sailing, there's something always going on, it's more comfortable on a solid heel listening to the sounds on the ocean.

After a day of hearing the engine turn, a whole night ahead didn't sound like much fun. I brought a secret weapon last crossing. I asked my daughter to load some music on an old ipod. I wish I was more of an audiophile, she knows that and just loaded her entire library of music onto the ipod.

It was heaven to block most of the engine noise and adjust the volume as the night fell. I listened to everything from Angus and Julie Stone to The Boss. Most of it I had never heard before, she is a kid afterall. It was a little like listening to a slice of her life the last few years, and catching up a bit. There was enough stuff on it to take me through the night, off and on, as I kept a 5 to 10 minute "peek" with an egg timer. Except for the dreaded end just before daybreak(always the hardest for me), it passed quickly enough.

The only down side to this was coming back across the Gulf of Maine(also under power....), I lost track of time listening to something and came on deck, in broad daylight to see a fishing boat cross my bow. I was the guy walking out between parked cars into traffic with ears buds stuck in his head.

Got any secrets for passing the night when there's nothing much to do? Ipod or AIS?