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Southern Cross by Crosby, Stills & Nash

Songfacts®:

• The "Southern Cross" is a constellation also known as the Crux Constellation that can be viewed from most of the Southern Hemisphere. The four brightest stars within the constellation form a cross pattern. Sailors have relied on the Southern Cross to help in navigating their boats; it appears on the national flags of Australia and New Zealand.
• The song was written by Stephen Stills with help from Richard Curtis and Michael Curtis. In the CSN boxed set, Stills explained: "The Curtis Brothers brought a wonderful song called 'Seven League Boots,' but it drifted around too much. I rewrote a new set of words and added a different chorus, a story about a long boat trip I took after my divorce. It's about using the power of the universe to heal your wounds. Once again, I was given somebody's gem and cut and polished it."
• Following the Graham Nash composition " Wasted On The Way ," "Southern Cross" was the second single from Daylight Again , the first Crosby, Stills & Nash album since CSN in 1977. They recorded the song in 1981, when, as Nash explained, David Crosby had crossed a rubicon when drugs were more important than music. By the time the album was released in 1982, he had been arrested on drug charges for which he eventually served an eight-month prison sentence. When he got out in 1986, he was sober, and Neil Young honored his pledge to make music with him if he got clean. In 1988, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released American Dream , their first album with all four members since Déjà Vu in 1970.
• There is a vocal mistake in the line "But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a coming day." One of the vocalists says "coming" on the first "promise." >> Suggestion credit : Dave - Leesburg, VA
• Since this is based on a song called "Seven League Boots," it bears mentioning that seven-league boots are a common magical artifact which crops up repeatedly in many European folk and fairy tales. They're a pair of boots which allow the wearer to take strides that are seven leagues (21 miles, 33.8 kilometers) long. The same concept of footwear that greatly increases one's traveling speed or stride is adapted into many role-playing and video games.
• Jimmy Buffett covered this song on his 1999 album Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays .
• The video for this song, with a ship a-sail, got Crosby, Stills & Nash on MTV, providing a soft rock respite from the European pop acts that dominated the network at the time. They never became video stars but found a welcoming home on the adult-oriented VH1 when that network launched in 1985.
• The cover art for the Daylight Again album features an enigmatic domed structure on a rocky hilltop, flanked by three glowing blue flying saucers. The US was in the midst of a resurgence in UFO popularity in the late '70s and early-'80s, bolstered by the writings of Chariots of the Gods author Erich von Daniken and renewed interest in Area 51.
• More songs from Crosby, Stills & Nash
• More songs with celestial titles
• More songs with directions in the title
• More songs that describe a journey
• More songs in heavy rotation in the early days of MTV
• More songs about boats
• More songs from 1982
• Lyrics to Southern Cross
• Crosby, Stills & Nash Artistfacts

Comments: 84

• Da Troof from 49417 @Catsaregods: That sure looks like David Crosby singing @1:00-1:40 & 2:35-3:39. Note his big bushy mustache in profile.
• Catsaregods from Northern California To: Willie from Scottsdale. David Crosby is not even on this song at all, and he's dead now, so you can calm down.
• Will from Michigan The phrase downhill run refers to sailing in the same direction as the wind. When you sail perpendicular to the wind it's called a reach, and when you're sailing into the wind it's called a beat. You can't sail directly into the wind or your sails will luff. The best you can do is sail at a 45 degree angle into the wind.
• Will from Michigan You can see the southern cross as far north as Hawaii on the southern horizon for six months. Papeete Bay and the Marquesas are locations in French Polynesia in the southern Pacific. Avalon is a city on Santa Catalina Island in California
• Mike from New York I disagree with lyrics written on the last stanza…listen carefully… I think they sing…So we WERE cheated and we lied and we tested… I know it an extra word and doesn’t follow the rule of we lied and we tested, but I still think I’m correct.
• Mister_mojo_risin from Atlanta Usa So many interpretations of this song. This one has memories for me, because I introduced my now wife to the CSN sound with this song on vacation in Hawaii. Not quite the Southern Cross, but immaculate star imagery. This song will always hold a place in my heart. Love the simplicity of the chord changes in this song too. Beautiful.
• Lisa Farrington from 92211 Most romantic tune of the decade!
• Hopper from N America Thanks Ken from Sacramento for your comments, which helped me and others I'm sure, to imagine the route SS described. ... lost me for a moment when you mentioned the "westerly trade winds". The trades are easterly winds (never mind the semantics, we figured it out). Interesting that this musical poetry masterpiece about love, life and relationships, stirred so many of us to a forensic exam of the route.
• Csn Fan from Monterey The origins of the song Southern Cross by Steven Stills, Rick and Michael Curtis as told by Michael Curtis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeWwDJrPXKg
• Bob Arthur from Columbus, Ohio Being a Navy veteran, sea-related music lights me up!!
• George Eshkol Ann from Vancouver, Canada There are 7 lines which are amazing: My love is an anchor tied to YOU Think about how many times, I have fallen The truth you might be runnin' from, is so small… But it's AS BIG AS THE PROMISE, The promise of a comin' day… You will survive being bested, SOMEBODY FINE WILL COME ALONG … I met Stephen Stills in El Salvador, and I asked him about my hunch about the mentioned lines, that reminded me of Jesus Christ. He had a smile and said: A cross Is a big thing to carry, and we fall, but there is always a promise of a coming day. This song brings peace…You will survive being bested, Somebody Fine will come along make me forget about loving you. This song brings peace. Strange…
• Ian from Northern Ontario Star formations such as the Southern Cross are a beautiful reminder that we are not alone. A few years back I portaged into a remote location in Northern Ontario and in the middle of the night decided to take a walk; the sky was alive! Get away from the city and go where the air is clean.
• Damted from North America When I saw the Southern Cross for the first time I was on assignment in the Bio Bio region of Southern Chile on a clear night listening to this song when a colleague from Australia stopped by my place and asked if I knew what the song was about. I said it was about sailing. while we were outside of my house he said "look up there mate" and there it was. Amazing experience. He mentioned that it was about sailing around Australia... I pondered that for many years. From the lyrics one can easily connect the dots and it becomes quite clear that it is about a voyage from Catalina Ca to French Polynesia. it's true meaning and the route he actually took can only be revealed by Steven Stills and the others involved in the origin of it's composure. Seems it is about a love, a broken heart, letting go, and finding yourself through the power of the Universe. Not sure why there is a difference of opinions about where the trip took place. Great song writers generally don't reveal the true meaning of the songs they write until after many years. Great comments. When I first heard the song I had never traveled beyond the limits of North America. Now I have been around the world many times and hit every continent except Antarctica and still going. The song always gives me a spiritual awakening and a conscious contact with God and the universe while in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Mo'0 from Nyc @Grinch - YOU need to take a look at a globe. Sailing from Catalina Island to the Marquesas and other destinations in Polynesia is common - there are dozens of small sailing vessels on that route at any given time. That and the fact that CSN are from S. California makes it even more plausible. When you "see the southern cross for the first time... you understand why you came THAT WAY" On a SSW tack from Hawaii to Polynesia that's exactly what happens - you reach a point where suddenly the S. Cross rises from the Horizon and is right in front of you.
• Mo'0 from Nyc @Ken after much back and forth I think you are absolutely correct. Sailing from Catalina (Avalon) to "The Southern Islands", and all the other spots in Polynesia mentioned in the song is a fairly common route. I think the "noisy bar in Avalon" could potentially be one of the other Avalons - but CSN are after all from S. California and Catalina Island is a typical launch point for that kind of trip. Also seeing the Southern Cross "for the first time" ... that's exactly what happens when you head southwest, crossing the equator below Hawaii - it's mind-blowing. If the song originated in Oceania the S. Cross would always be visible and you would not have been seeing it "for the first time".
• Ken from Earth My dream is to visit all of the places mentioned in this song.
• Mac Mcintosh from United Kingdom I was just watching a documentary on the BBC iplayer about the Space shuttles. And apparently this song was a favourite of one of the Astronauts, and He liked to play in while in space. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0109cc7/the-horizon-guide-to-space-shuttles
• Ryan from S. Lake Tahoe Holly in Sacramento: I am..... And Southern Cross makes me feel the same way...
• Roy from California Meantime, a 1980 recording with the California Blues Band explains why Stills rhymed "a followin' sea" with "to Papeete"—he'd originally pronounced it "puh-EP-uh-tee" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDoZ3z0ET6Y
• Roy from California The final line definitely is "In the Southern Cross". In the live version posted to YouTube as video iuLBhxZUkmU they repeat the final line with emphasis on "iiiiin". Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuLBhxZUkmU&t=4m17s final line repeat at 4:23
• Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On September 12th 1982, "Southern Cross" by Crosby, Stills, and Nash entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #69; and on November 14h, 1982 it peaked at #18 {for 3 weeks} and spent 17 weeks on the Top 100... It reached #6 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart... Between 1969 and 1989 the trio/quartet had thirteen Top 100 records; with two making the Top 10, "Just a Song Before I Go" peaked at #7 for 2 weeks on August 21st, 1977 and "Wasted on the Way" reached #9 for 4 weeks on August 15th, 1982... They just missed having a third Top 10 record when "Woodstock" peaked at #11 {for 2 weeks} on May 3rd, 1970.
• Ken from Sacramento, Ca Oh, come on folks. He's not sailing from Australia, or Panama, he's sailing from the U.S west coast - from L.A., where he and his girlfriend Judy Collins - who the song is about - lived. Avalon is the Avalon in the Channel Islands of California - where he undoubtedly tried to call her before launching himself off into the Pacific. Sailing on the outside is sailing on the leading edge of the wind - in this case, catching the easterlies as they bend toward the south, due to the Coriolis effect, off the N. America Pacific Coast. Sailing a reach is sailing to the south south-west, across these mostly easterly winds, to catch the trades, from where they will sail "downhill" - downwind, in other words - on the westerly trade winds into the Marquesses. And the Marquesses, of course, are "off the wind", meaning the easterly winds they're in now - still off the S. California Coast - wouldn't carry them towards the Marquesses - which are "off the wind" to the southwest. It's Occam's Razor folks - the simplest explanation is usually correct. Don't make it harder than it needs to be. Oh, and Willie in Scottsdale - "80 feet of Waterline" does not mean a 40' boat. It means as the boat heels over and the leeward side sinks into the water, the waterline lengthens to 80 feet - and the longer the waterline is in relation to the beam, the faster the speed. Thus "nicely making way." And since a boat's length is longer at the deck than at the waterline, he's sailing a very nice boat, indeed.
• John from Ky, Ky I heard this song on and off for many years. I actually had no clue who the band was. Just that this song was so moving. I thought it was a Christian song because of the words "Southern Cross" and heaven. It's certainly a heavenly song.
• Patti from Gonzales, La October 31,1982 at a Halloween Party just outside of Chicago I met Michael and it was love at first site. The first time he kissed me that night was to Southern Cross and from that moment on it has been our song. It has been 29 years since then and even though miles and long distance separate us now we still keep in touch by phone everyday. He lives in Wisconsin and I live in Louisiana. We are still each others best friend and Southern Cross brings back wonderful memories we made. Its a beautiful song with true meaning and will always be our song. Its hard being apart and so far away and when I hear this song it makes me feel 16 and in love with him all over again. We never fell out of love with each other. and he is still my soul-mate as I am his. This is one song that will never get old nor will I tire of hearing it over and over again in my car.
• Dalan from Notacityyet, Mt "Bested" as I always understood, is "one up on you". I, imho, understand this song to represent a love without the true meaning of a couples love they share. Perhaps a love or bonding they would like to share but neither are commited to. In the song he admits his love for her "is tied with a silver chain", proclaiming his feeling. As far as the "women/girl" mention ... try singing it without using the word "girl". I think he is asking for the girl to be more mature and ask her to be so. Endure has a closer rhyme to girl, imho.
• Willie from Scottsdale, Az A few nautical reminders here: 1. If you left NSW or anywhere in Australia, the Southern Cross would always be visible. You wouldn't first come upon it after a few weeks of sailing. 2. To be on a beam reach at the start, you have to be sailing through the northerlies. The southerlies flow in the opposite direction. 3. A "following sea" would indicate the vessel is on a quarter reach, meaning that the vessel would have to be sailing southwest through the westbound trade winds. 4. A Boat drawing 80 feet of waterline is only 40 feet long. Not the most seaworthy vessel I'd want to navigate the open Pacific, and I've done it. Nice song, even though David Crosby still turns my stomach.
• Nathan from Kansas City, Mo My vote for a "noisy bar in Avalon" is Luau Larry's in Avalon CA, as some have mentioned. Check out Frommers for reference. I believe the downhill run was from Long Beach or Southern CA on the Tahiti Run.
• Cid from Argyle, Ny Grinch, Ann Arbor, MI, take your own advice and look up "coconut milk run" I always thought it was Papeete Bay. but it isn't. Papeete is pronounced as 4 sylables, Pa-pa-AY-tay. You can check it out on Dictionary.com.
• Smoothie from Chicago, Il The line "You will survive being bested" .. is the author's inner voice telling him he's going to be OK after being bested (or dumped) by his chick. Which goes together with the next line "someone fine will come along and make me forget about loving you"
• Laura from Sacramento, Ca This song makes me feel profound emotions.
• Renewed from Northeast, Nj I believe this song represents his love for the 'goddess' (woman/child, "and music is her name" = the planet venus: a feminine planet ruling love and beauty and harmony (music). Isis is stationed as the protector of the South over the sons of Horus (horoscope), and the idea is that the love of the goddess is forever, she will surely pass the test and he shall be reunited with her eventually, more than likely when the "cross", N/S/E/W moves to a new position (precession of the equinoxes). This is a beautiful song and an enduring message.
• Grinch from Ann Arbor, Mi I certainly don't agree with some of the "interpretations" in the comments, but to each his own...except for you boneheads from that think the song has ANYTHING to do with LA. Jeez, that is some first class weed you've got!!! Avalon DOES NOT refer to Catalina Island, anymore than it does the legendary city in England!!! The song is about a boat trip in Oceana, and so it is either Avalon, Victoria, or Avalon, NSW, both in Australia. Given the geography of Tahiti (Papeete) and the Marquesas I would opt for that in NSW, but perhaps somebody from Oz can provide some input on that. Some of you folks seriously need to use your brain before your post...IMHO.
• Ian from Liverpool, United Kingdom this is one of those tracks that you either get or dont, you interpret it in your own mind, to me it seems like Judy Collins said nay too many times he gave up and sailed off to get over it,discovered himself and got perspective, it happens, I know, and the southern cross? Magnificent on an autumn night in New Zealand or Gold Coast summer nights in Brisbane Australia, I know I lived them and this is one of the 100 I have to listen to before you die. only 99 to go...
• Deb from Las Vegas, Nv All the different interpretations are valid. That's what makes it a work of art.
• Nathan Curtis from Santa Paula, Ca This is one of my favorite songs to hear come alive in the mall loudspeakers. It brings on memories of my childhood listening to my family "the Curtis Brothers" perform it in my living room. The virgin form may be available someday. We are striving to collect and protect Rick and Mike's music. Many stories have yet to be told, But its very refreshing to see that my family hasn't been forgotten. on "you Tube" you can see this song performed live to a huge packed stadium and they give the Curtis Brothers a shout out. Please go to www.jennifercurtis.net and support Ricks daughter. also www.myspace.com/savetheship and check out his youngest daughters musical efforts. God bless.
• Niles from Belpre, Oh excellent vocals,
• Butch from C.b., Or Iam new to this fact site, so many options, wow,I was there really there the first time anyone heard 7 league boots, Rick down on one knee w/ guitar 10am , Mike not up! I just wrote this and want to know what you think? He often made me the lucky listener for new things, He had faith in me as a song writer so I am indebted to him a great deal. Rick just kept writing and was ever so humble about his abilities, almost 50 years have gone by since we met, and alls I can say is there is more of his music out there!!! The original lyrics manifest the vision, Steve took this beautiful vision and gave it to the universe,thanks to Steve and his acknowledgment of Ricks work. Rick Curtis has written some really beautiful songs please listen!! "As I walk down the rippling road , made by the wind thru the fences" Butch,C.B. Or.
• Elisa from Ojo Caliente, Nm Logan, I believe the Port of Avalon is located on the Catalina, California, Channel Islands. Not Panama.
• Jim from Pleasant Hill, Ca RE: "There is a vocal mistake in the line "But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a coming day." One of the vocalists says "coming" on the first "promise." (thanks, Dave - Leesburg, VA)" I'm straining to hear that error (at ~2:11 in my version of the track). It sort of sounds like Stills pronouncing "prOmise" like "prUmise." Did CS&N themselves mention it as a gaffe? It's subtle enough that they must have left it in, figuring few would notice.
• Jayro from Sao Paulo, Brazil Hello from the third world... It seems that the "boat" is Music itself, in which someone sails the seas of life. Holly and Joe got the spirit... that's what music is for. :) By the way, the Crux also figures in Brazil's flag. All the best...
• Jon from Morris, Ny Stills recorded this song for a solo album in 1979. His label at the time (Columbia) didn't release the album. It was rerecorded for Daylight Again. The 1979 solo version of Southern Cross is included on the album "Songs of Stephen Stills". It sounds more alot like Manassas.
• Joe from Sarasota, Fl This song gives me, Joe Bratcher, the hunger. The void in me spreads out and the salty spray gushes in and makes me a sailing singularity, eager for kinship on the quantum level, i.e. with Holly who is but thoroughly impressed with my expert interpretation of this song, which everyone should read. Do not delete me again moderator. This comment is germaine and deserves to stay. :)
• Holly from Sacramento, Ca Joe in Sarasota...are you single...and straight? my heart absolutely aches when I hear this song and you just, so elequently, expressed why. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
• Dave from Manassas, Va I love the comments, esp Heather's in LA. I always sing that part too. I dont think there's any hidden meanings. Like Steven Stills said, he's singing about the sailing trip he took to get over his divorce. There's some sadness and regret behind his lyrics, but, ultimately, CSN's great singing and Stills' lyrics turn it into a song of hope. I love it.
• Michael from Pittsburgh, Pa David Crosby did not write this song. I don't know about the Curtis references here but Stephen Stills is responsible for the CSN song. Also, none of them own a boat called Southern Cross. David Crosby did have a large sailboat named Mayan. In fact, it is currently for sale (July 2009) for $1M.
• Wile from Jacksonville, Fl ok, It's about a boat trip Stills took once..no hidden meanings..he plugged in some lyrics that fit the rhythm, rhyme and harmony he and the Curtis brothers were looking for. Nothing more than a fabric of some reality and some likely drug induced thoughts to sell a song..nothing more. Although it does stir some emotion about sailling the South Pacific, and it also has a few references to to actual places and names, remember,..."it's just some words to a f--king song"..to quote Stills own words to some guy in a bar who posted this account on another forum. AS a song writer myself and intrumentalist , I see hyper-analyzation of song meanings all the time. It's a sad commentary on todays music, but many songs are written with lyrics that are important more because they ryhme, and less beacause they fit the meaning of what a writer/singer would try to pass on to listeners. Take for instance, when I was a young man we spent hours sitting around, drinking ans smoking..try to figure out the meaning of Procul Harem's "Whiter Shade of Pale". Still havent got the answer to that one because there is no meaning. A bunch of guys sat around drinking and smoking and whatever, and came up with some words that ryhmed to a melody that was sing-able. Nothing more...MMMMMMM?...and the ceiling flew away.....go figure!
• Robert from Sacramento, Ca I really don't think the song is about the stars. It really sounds to me more like its about the ships "The Southern Cross". At the time the song was written "The Southern Cross" was racing for the Americas cup based in Los Angeles where the song was written (and likely popular in the local papers and media at the time).
• Angelle from Mentor, Oh To Robert in Chicago and Meg in Virginia: Please ge in touch with us! I am Jennifer Curtis' foster sister (Rick's daughter, Mike's neice) and we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected] and visit www.JenniferCurtis.net
• Meg from Roanoke , Va I wish I knew Robert in Chicago. I once had a tape with 7 League Boots on it and I think it got stolen. I knew the Curtis family a LONG time ago. Richard died about ten years ago. You know they wrote Blue Letter that Fleetwood Mac recorded? And sister Patty Schauer wrote Don't Mess With a Woman that Helen Reddy recorded? Ah, the good old days...
• Deanne from Harrisonburg, Va I always looked at it this way: the singer has had two great and equal loves in his life, the woman and the sea. He ultimately had to choose between them, and his choice was to sail on. Though the sea is a beautiful, captivating mistress it can never truly return the love to him like that woman/girl did. Wonderful song, fantastic group, and thank you all for pondering and loving it as much as this mountain gal always has.
• Alan from City, Mi Ok, this is totally different than what everybody's written about this song, but I believe it was inspired by David Crosby's life. First off, it came out not too long after his autobiography detailing his struggles with crack cocaine. He had a boat named Music, which is the only thing he never sold for crack. He mentions in the book that it helped keep him together to dream of getting straight someday and be able to sail far enough to see the Southern Cross one more time. He had a girlfriend that stuck with him during the dark years and it sounds like he is singing to her. There are many other parts of the song that seem to match Crosby's life. I know Crosby didn't write the song, but his story was well-known by the time this song came out. Crosby's book was titled Long Time Gone. (I am still amazed that Crosby is still alive after reading this book.)
• Anonymous Awesome song! Makes me want to take up sailing. Great insight Logan, gives the song so much more meaning.
• Joe from Sarasota, Fl "I've been searching for that woman, girl, who knows love can endure" He is not searching for a woman and a girl. He simply addresses the woman as girl, like "hey, girl". He has been vainly searching for someone like her who also believes in a lasting love, which obviously she doesn't because she ran away from him and his lifestyle. Detailed sailing terminology is used to establish his experience and credibility of being out on the water a lot, alluding to his solo wanderlust, of course incompatible with a stable relationship. He is older now and the dream of having her or finding someone like her is dying. The love they shared is the pinnacle for him. Regarding "I have my ship and all her flags are a flyin'. She is all that I have left and music is her name ..." There is no boat named music. This very song is now the ship carrying on his love for her. It's all he has left. "You will survive being bested" means he is claiming the majority of the responsibility for their demise. He was best at causing the problems, though she is not without fault. Finding someone who will make him forget about loving her "IN the southern cross" is impossible and he knows it. It is a lonely statement that her love has guided him (like the southern cross) but that love itself is unreachable. Its purpose is to teach. The song consistently conveys a tone that he does accept his condition, that is without her love, but only because their relationship and its troubles have taught him dire yet essentially spiritual things about himself. Ultimately, the song uses its considerable power and weight to remind those in love to nurture it because once it is lost or damaged beyond repair, there may be grave and permanent heartache. Bon voyage, lonely vagabonds.
• Dave from Leesburg, Va In response to Paul's comment. I was under the impression that the last verse was cynical. "We cheated, and we lied, and we tested, and we never failed to fail..." etc. I always thought that he meant that he bested her at being a bad person, and that she would survive that. Also that when he says "somebody fine will come along..." etc. that he was openly lying to himself, knowing it wouldn't happen, but saying it anyway, because he knows he screwed up. Either way--it's a powerful song for the fact that either of us could be right! Thanks for the comments. They made me ponder it again!
• Joe from Gallipolis, Oh crosby stills and nash were actually all atheist
• Hank from Austin, Tx To Robert from Chicago: Please steer me to Michael and the "virgin idea". I want to hear & "7 League Boots".
• Dave from Houston, Tx The first verse is: Got out of town on a boat goin' to Southern Islands Sailing a reach before a followin' sea She was makin' for the trades on the outside And the downhill run to Papeete Bay Their destination is Fiji (the Southern Islands; they will first make landfall in Tahiti at Papeete. Sailing on a reach means the wind is coming from abeam, straight from the side, the best point of sail. Before a following sea is just what it sounds like. Also, Still apparently never owned a boat names Music or Southern Cross or anything else. Crosby had one named Mayan.
• Paul from Levy, Ar In response to Garth's comment: Saying "and the Southern Cross" would indeed create the meaning you suggest, but that is exactly the OPPOSITE of what the song clearly says. "You will survive being bested/Somebody fine will come long, make me forget about loving you..." It isn't saying that it's unlikely, it's saying it WILL happen: "hey, babe, someday someone will make me forget you." Thus, the "you will survive being bested" line.
• David from Deerfield Beach, Fl Posted 2/11/2008. "Southern Cross" was one of my favorite songs back in 1982. Living in Florida my Dad got me & my brother scuba diving lessons during the summer of 1982. Aside from just being a good song I remember this song would evoke memories of my times out on the ocean that summer going out on boat trips for various dives near the Keys, etc. This song fit just right for that imagery. I got the album "Daylight Again" back then and I must say that I thought that this was a pretty decent album. C, S & N (& Y) were really big when they first started out back around 1969-1970, but aside from their 1977 hit "Just A Song Before I Go", I hadn't heard much from them until this 1982 comeback album of sorts. They've always been a classic with their beautiful harmonies & late 1960's counter-culture vibe, so it was nice to see them come back with this refreshingly good album. "Southern Cross" was my favorite off of it, and also featured the hit "Wasted On The Way", and there's this incredibly beautiful mellow David Crosby song on there called "Delta". Love that one. Aside from being a good LP though it didn't hurt that "Daylight Again" had this really great album cover! It's a painting by Gilbert Williams called "Celestial Visitation" of these 3 blue-glowing U.F.O.s in the mountains. Really cool-looking! One of my all-time favorite album covers for sure. So between the music & the cover art "Daylight Again" was a pretty good all-around package in my opinion. Way to go, guys. Thanks for that one.
• Jon from Dc, De Stephen Stills was in love w/Judy Collins...twice she ran away...also the inspiration for Suite Judy Blue Eyes
• Garth from Portland, Or Various lyrics sites list the last line as being "At the Southern Cross" or "In the Southern Cross", and neither makes as much sense to me as "AND the Southern Cross" (the 'and' sung as 'n'), as if to say "I'm as likely to forget about loving you as I am to forget seeing the Southern Cross."
• Heather from Los Angeles, Ca The lyric, "and my love is an anchor to you, tied with a silver chain" is wonderful. I always sing this part.
• Peter from Sault Ste Marie , Chile I must say that this is one of the remarkable performances that has it all. I was lucky enough to stumble on a great painting titled "Thermoplae and Cutty Sark". This is of the race between two clippers. Underneath on the website were the words and recording of Southern Cross. I have been on the clipper "Cutty Sark" preserved at Greenwich, London, England. One can close one's eyes and dream a little, hard though the reality of sail was- and is. Well, it is hard to put it into words, but the absolute pleasure when I hear it. I accept the whole great sound and will never tire of it.
• Rob from Wilkes-barre, Pa One of the greatest songs of all times, reminds me of a girl named Molly.
• Logan from Indialantic, Fl The line "And the downhill run To Papeete." is referring to the longest open ocean sail stretch on the planet. It starts in Avalon, or the Port of Avalon which is located on the east coast of Panama and travel west to Papeete which is a city in Tahiti. I believe I remember it is like 2500 miles of open ocean until you see the first unhibited island and then another thousand somthing miles until you reach Papeete. My father who is the one who shared that with me also said that the Port of Avalon is always packed with boats that are each waiting for the perfect moment to set sail because once you begin you cannot turn around. Hints the "Downhill Run".
• Brooks from Bargersville, In Steve Stills is the man.
• Darrell from Eugene Here are some pieces of trivia about Southern Cross Beer- one fictional, one real. 1. The beer that is drunk in the 1958 Plymouth during the 1983 Stephen King/John Carpenter horror film "Christine" toward the end is called Southern Cross. Someone once told me that the "beer" was really Cragmont Cola (Safeway's old house brand, discontinued around 10 years ago) in old-school tin cans. 2. A few years ago, I heard about "Southern Cross Wheat Beer" from Australia, but I never tried it. I don't know if it is still being brewed. That finishes my lecture about Southern Cross Beer.
• Sharon W from Nashville, Tn This song is timeless, beautiful & romantic. I listen to this amazing group all the time,my kids love them too.Hard to beleive they've been singing and writing these magical songs for forty years.They are a treasure,and have touched millions of people. The first song they knew by heart was " Teach your Children"
• Carlos from São Paulo, Brazil The Southern Cross is also emblematic for Brazil. It appears in the national flag, in the seal and other symbols. The first reference to the constellation in the brazilian land was made by a german astronomer who was along with Pedro Álvares Cabral's fleet, the portuguese discoverer of the country in 1500. The cross pattern is very symbolic and strongly visible in the darkness of the nights. The longest part of the cross indicates the South. That is why Southern Cross is useful for navigators, including those in South Pacific like the guy in CS&N's song. - Carlos Alberto, São Paulo, Brazil
• Mike from Hueytown , Al Their best song ..reminds me of college
• Robert from Chicago, Il I don't know if my post got on, but I will try again. Southern Cross is a great song, no doubt but it really kinda gets to me when I see that Stephen Stills wrote the song with some "HELP"from Richard & Michael Curtis. This is obviously misleading and credit should be rightly given where credit is due. No, Stephen didn't write Southern Cross, with 'help' from the Curtis'. The Curtis' wrote Southern Cross, with a little help from Stephen Stills---mainly his publishing co., Gold Hill, his status, and his insistence in re-writing the lyrics to a song called "7 League Boots", written by the Curtis' years earlier.I, friends know this as fact because I knew Richard very well and listen to the original demo all the time complete with Stevie Nicks backup vocals and Lindsey Buckingham behind the console producing it. although I enjoy both versions, and as good as "Southern Cross" is...I prefer the original, "7 League Boots" myself...but of course, that's just me. A great song anyway one slices it, but i do take issue with disinformation.It's funny, behind the scenes that is, and people's misguided perceptions. I will gladly steer you to Richard's surviving brother Michael, so that you can hear the virgin idea in it's pure form...for those of you out there into the spirit of the artistry of songwriting, it is awesome, how the song went through the transformative process...I find it just captivating!
• Monique from Chicago, Il I absolutely love this song. It is so well crafted and I truly salute the writers. As I listen to the song I imagine that I am sailing, using the Southern Cross to navigate. (This from a person who has never been sailing!)
• Sean from Brockton, Ma Great song- cover of the album "Daylight again" reminds me of a Journey album cover.
• Jay from Bayville, Nj Concious, intelligent, moving song. A work of art.
• Dan from New York, Ny this is an awesome song. i saw CSN in concert in Northampton, MA, and they played this. the crowd went wild. it was intense.
• Laurie from Greenfield, Wi This is such a beatiful song! I have a live version that is incredible! One of your best, Mr. Crosby-thank you for the beautiful music!
• Dave from Leesburg, Va I, too, think this is a great song. I sang it to my son every night for a year after he was born. I have an idea regarding the "plot" of the song. I think the man telling the story was married or partnered with a woman and they had a child--I think that's why he refers to searching for that "woman/girl." I think this is backed up by the fact that she ran away twice. I think she ran away because she had to get away, discovered she was pregnant and thought it would be best to come back. Before she told him, she realized that she'd be better off without him. This is also backed up by "love can endure" which suggests that the love he has will endure through his child.
• Dan from Winthrop, Ma This recording has David Crosby in name only as he had reached the depths of his excesses his vocals were handled by Art Gurfunkel and Timothy B. Schmit
• Shannon from Palisade, Co This is such a beautiful song, I wish more was included about the real meaning behind it instead of just flat facts.
• Fulvio from Belo Horizonte, Brazil It's the most beautiful song i ever heard in my life !!!I love Crosby,Stills and Nash , they are great musicians !!!
• Ruben from Grove, Ok I remember when this song first came out in the early 80's. I was watching it on MTV while I was getting ready for school. I was running late that day, but I didn't care. I had to hear this song. I felt this song back then and I still do.
• Chelsea from Nowhereville, Nh Actually his boat's name is "Music" as in "...she is all that I have left and Music is her name"
• Laura from Spencerport, Ny This song is one of my all time FAVORITES...it's so pretty. It was my childhood (and i'm only 18 now), and i love playing this on guitar. It's so uplifting! This song rocked in concert on July 19, 2004 at the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center in NY. Rock on, CS&N!!!
• Jes from Canal Fulton, Oh I believe it's also the name of Stephen Stills's Boat

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Boat names with a musical connection.

By madcat June 6, 2013 in General Boating

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Following on from the comments in another thread with mention of Stormbringer and Green Manalishi what names have you spotted,I can't think of any just now but I think Purple Fairies boat is called Fairies wear boots.

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Lockie Junior

'Andante' is a cruiser that I've seen about on the Trent. Is the sort of musicalishness you were after?

The name 'Ross Revenge' also sticks in my mind, though I don't know where I've heard of such a boat as I'm pretty sure I haven't seen it on the Trent (if it exists and isn't just my daft brain).

Makes me think of frozen food that one, was it a trawler maybe?i

I've seen a "Cantabile" whilst on my travels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantabile

luctor et emergo

I have no idea why my boat is called Heart of Gold, as there are two distinct sources. One musical, one literary.

Ahhh, a quick Google search say it was the old trawler that Radio Caroline was on (way before my time according to Wikipedia). A musical connection of sorts I suppose?

Magic Potion

Baba O' Riley is in the Northants area and Comfortably Numb (2) and Echoes I've spotted.

There was a narrowboat moored on the River Nene in the Oundle area named 'Cracklin Rosie ' . Original owner was a Neil Diamond fan

alan_fincher

Lets hear it for Paddy R and Ruth's "Comfortably Numb" and butty "Echoes" (althoughI realise there are several "Comfortably Numb"s.)

There is also "Another Brick In The Wall", complete with suitable "Wall" mural, and (IIRC) saying "is there anybodyu IN there!!."

Far too many "Andante"s and "Rallentando"s, (sorry Lady Muck and Bullfrog for the latter, but there are!....)

Not seen on the forum for while, but one of the more unusuial is "Ogden's Nutgone Flake".

There are dozens frankly, almost certainly hundreds!

"A town called Chalice" ? Nope - that's wrong!

"I rode my b i Sickle past your window last night"?

You'll just have to keep searching.......

ours is Nimrod, named after Elgar's music

We are brunhilde, named by the old owner. Apparently a viking goddess from a german opera... Interesting, yes...!?!?!

Naughty Cal

Sunseeker called Rescue Me at Newark.

Always find that one amusing when it hails a lock!

Sunseeker called Rescue Me at Newark.   Always find that one amusing when it hails a lock!

Besides the kiddie-friendly hire boat of that name, there is at least one other Muddy Waters.

McKinley Morganfield would have been proud. Or baffled.

One of the forummembers has a boat named "Avalon", don't know if he is (or was) a Roxy-Music fan.

furnessvale

Boat on the Macc/Peak Forest called "Middle C".

George ex nb Alton retired

One of the forummembers has a boat named "Avalon", don't know if he is (or was) a Roxy-Music fan.   Peter.

Or perhaps his Christian name is Frankie.

Ahhh, a quick Google search say it was the old trawler that Radio Caroline was on (way before my time according to Wikipedia). A musical connection of sorts I suppose?   Lockie.

yes the Ross revenge was a side trawler owned by the Ross Fisheries Company of Grimsby she was the largest side trawler ever to trawl the north sea, having been commandeered for the Fisheries protection fleet she was fitted with a reinforced forecastle onto which a large gun was attached she was the used during the Cod wars with Iceland as a fisheries protection vessel, after the war was over Ronan O'Rahilly brought her as a replacement for the Mi Amigo sadly before she could be commissioned the Mi Amigo took on more water than the pumps could stand and so sadly the Mi Amigo sank in the thames estuary where she remains to this day, The Ross having had the 400ft mast installed crossed from Ireland and sailed round the south coast to take up her position in the Knock Deep Channel and so began her final career as a Pirate Radio ship home to not only Radio Caroline but also Radio Seagull and a Dutch station

On air until the night of the 1987 hurricane when near disaster took the mast off the ship sideways and silenced Caroline again.(the most terrifying night I have ever had at sea!!)

make shift repairs saw the ship back on air within a week on reduced power using a fibreglass whip aerial that was prone to water ingress and put us off air frequently, then as soon as we could get the new masts out to the ship we rearranged to the twin mast aerial she still has. sadly there was more issues to come firstly the dutch authorities boarded the ship illegally and shut down the 2 stations (euroseige) then caroline became the only station by now broadcasting on 558MW the authorities allowed the frequency to be used by Spectrum radio broadcasting from Brent Cross in direct conflict with caroline. Laser 558 having switched to 576MW earlier on then folded and so caroline took over the 576 frequency, the ship took a heavy battering and dragged her anchor some 12 miles before coming to rest on the notorious Goodwin Sands off the coast of kent salvaged (the only ship to ever come off the Goodwin in one piece) and towed to Dover by the dover harbour board where she was impounded until the salvage fees were eventually paid and she then went to Chatham dock the monies ran out and she was turned out again to stay at anchor off the isle of Sheppey, salvation came in the guise of the friends of the ross revenge who raised the necessary funds to bring her in again and she is still at Chatham broadcasts are rare from her but caroline now has a legal land based satellite signal on sky channel 0199. not aware of any boat so named on the canal but there maybe.

and so to answer the OP's question Narrowboat Communicator (my old boat) is so named as a tribute to Laser Radio's ship (sadly now cut up) originally named the Gardline seeker she was renamed when laser 558's owners brought her I worked on both the Communicator and the Ross Revenge in 1987 as a general hand (only ever worked on the boats, not the radio stations)

? the Bowbelle was the boat responsible for the sinking of the Marchioness but not sure of a musical connection?

At some point in its past, mine was called 'Prelude'.

there is also a King David which again has a pirate radio connection as both king radio and capital radio both broadcast from a ship so named very interesting aerial arrangement in the form of a giant hoop that again suffered from short circuiting in heavy seas as the hoop would end up submerged as the ship heeled in the swell.

There's 'Ada' (you with the stars in your eyes). Think Uncle Albert!

Neil Young song IIRC.

I see a boat called 'Time and a Word' occasionally. A reference to the second Yes album I suspect, though I've yet to talk to them to confirm.

comfortably numb

I'm thinking of re-naming my NB Comfortably Numb (my fav tune ever) when it gets a re-paint in a couple of years time, I know there are others but only a few (I saw the one Alan refer's to on the Weaver last week).

My boat currently has the name Hobo which is written half way on each side, and on the panel at the rear of the cabin on both sides are the names of the previous owners. It's going to be difficult to erase the Hobo as it isn't in a seperate panel and I obviously want to get rid of the previous owners names, and as cheaply as possible due to cost restraints. So in the meantime I'll have to leave the Hobo and I plan to have Comfortably Numb overwritten where their names are.

I know it may look odd the boat having 2 names but I think comfortably numb could also be construed as a statement rather than a name, and it pretty well describes my state of mind now I'm retired even though I realise the song is really about a druggie, LOL. Perhaps it's a naff idea but it isn't as if there aren't other boats with naff stuff written on them is it, LOL.

A few years ago I saw a Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (a Pinkl Floyd album) in Middlewich.

We have a boat here called Wensleydale Heffer once owned by a butcher, which could be renamed ''Atom heart mother.'' I suppose.

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Sail in Tune: 131 Excellent Musical Boat Names for Musicians

Finding a music-inspired boat name can be a lot of fun and we sure had fun coming up with a list of musical boat names for musicians and music lovers alike.

From classical music to jazz to classic rock to hip hop and even musicals, these musical boat names are sure to get your creative juices flowing and inspire you to come up with a boat name that you love.

10 Musical Boat Names Inspired by Classical Music

• Serenade of the Seas
• My Ode to Joy
• Bach in the Boat
• Four Seasons
• The Lullaby
• Moonlight Sonata
• The Concerto
• The Blue Danube
• Fur Für Elise & Me

10 Musical Boat Names Inspired by Jazz

• Laid-back Lounger
• Swinging in the Sea
• Miles Ahead
• Shipshape Shuffle
• Cool Jazz Cruise
• The Big Easy
• Blue Note Blues
• Jazz-a-Rama

10 Musical Boat Names Inspired by Classic Rock

• Not Fade Away
• Gimme Shelter
• A Whiter Shade of Sail
• Surfin’ USA
• Bad Moon Rising
• Rock the Boat
• Highway to Hull
• Freebird Flyer
• Born to Be Wild

10 Musical Boat Names Inspired by Hip Hop

• Rappin’ Rider
• Boom Bap Boat
• Hip Hop High Seas
• Coastal Cruisin’
• Funky Fresh Float
• Rhymes with Boats
• Groove on the Waves
• Flowin’ With the Current
• Hull-icopters

10 Musical Boat Names Inspired by Popular Music Genres

• Reggae Queen
• Soul Survivor
• Country Breeze
• Hip Hop Heaven
• Punk Rock Princess
• Indie Islander
• Heavy Metal Thunder

51 Musical Boat Names Inspired by Musical Instruments

• The Pianoforte
• Symphony Strummer
• Acoustic Anchor
• Fretful Finale
• Grand Guitarrón
• Deeper Drummer
• Sonata Sailer
• Electric Escort
• Groovy Galleon
• Hi-Hat Hunter
• Tambourine Tourer
• Cymbal Cruiser
• Harmonica Haven
• Melodious Mariner
• Chord Cruiser
• Flute Float
• Trumpet Trawler
• Saxophonist Skiff
• Melodic Mover
• Resonant Raider
• Clarinet Conquest
• Piano Pilot
• Oboe Odyssey
• Violin Vessel
• Gong Galleon
• Conga Cruiser
• Bagpipe Brigantine
• Tuba Tripper
• Double Bass Dragster
• Accordion Ark
• Dulcimer Drifter
• Recorder Raft
• Trombone Tower
• Maracas Mariner
• Lyre Lifter
• Kalimba Ketch
• Castanets Cruiser
• Vibraphone Voyageur
• Cymbalum Craft
• Harmonic Hull
• Xylophone Xavier
• Drum Destroyer
• Harpsichord Havener
• Mandolin Manoeuvre
• Guitar Gondola
• Lyrical Lady
• Groove Galleon

30 Additional Musical Boat Names (That We Couldn’t Categorize)

• The Bossa Novanator
• Reggae Roulette
• Symphony of the Seas
• Funky Fishin’
• Bluegrass Barge
• Viva La Vida
• Swingin’ Ship
• Motown Mariner
• Fiddler on the Wave
• Country Cruiser
• Calypso On The Water
• Windjammer Waltz
• The Showtune Seacraft
• Rockin’ Reeler
• Ballad Boat
• Happy Harmony
• Tin Pan Trawler
• DJ Deck Boat
• Broadway Barge
• Ska Skipper
• Big Band Belle
• Nocturne Navigator
• Twang Trawler
• Jammin’ Journeyman

We hope this musical boat name list gets your creative juices flowing and helps you come up with the perfect musical boat name for your vessel! Have fun and happy sailing!

Happy cruising and music-making!

Behind the (Boating) Music: Southern Cross

Written by Stephen Stills in 1982 with Richard and Michael Curtis. According to Stills, “The Curtis brothers brought a wonderful song called ‘Seven League Boots,’ but it drifted around too much. I rewrote a new set of words and added a different chorus, a story about a long boat trip I took after my divorce. It’s about using the power of the universe to heal your wounds. Once again, I was given somebody’s gem and cut and polished it.”

That “long boat trip” was in the South Pacific’s French Polynesia following his divorce from French singer-songwriter Veronique Sanson. To interpret his lyrics, being out on the water exploring exotic places on his boat helped him to relax and find perspective on life and his marital troubles. Right on, Stephen – there’s something transformative about being on your boat, away from it all and staring at the sea.

The actual “Southern Cross” is a constellation most clearly seen from the Southern Hemisphere with the four brightest stars forming a cross. Sailors know it well and use the Southern Cross to help navigate their boats.

Did you know …

• The national flags of Australia and New Zealand include versions of the Southern Cross.
• David Crosby, the Crosby to Stills & Nash, has been a sailor since age 11 .

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Rock star schooner ‘Mayan’ enjoys…

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Rock star schooner ‘Mayan’ enjoys new berth, ownership

Beau Vrolyk, seen through the wheel of his boat ‘The Mayan’ at the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor on Friday, will participate in the Leukemia Cup on Sunday. (Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Beau Vrolyk, who purchased his boat ‘The Mayan’ from singer David Crosby, will participate in the Leukemia Cup on Sunday. (Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Beau Vrolyk stands aboard his boat, ‘The Mayan,’ at the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor on Friday. The boat once belonged to singer David Crosby, and will take part in the inaugural Leukemia Cup on Sunday. (Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel)

SANTA CRUZ >> From the dock, the 74-foot wooden ship appears, as the famous Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song goes, “very free and easy.”

Mayan is neither. In fact, she requires a crew of three to sail and cost Santa Cruz resident Beau Vrolyk $750,000 to own. But she came with a truly unique rock ‘n’ roll pedigree.

Musician David Crosby owned and sailed Mayan for the last 45 years, writing such rock classics as “Wooden Ship” and “Carry Me” on board what he once called his “deep muse.”

Today, the Alden 356-B Centerboard Schooner is permanently docked in a slip directly behind Johnny’s Harborside Restaurant in the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor.

“It took six months to convince Crosby to sell her to me,” Vrolyk says. “He didn’t need to sell the boat, he wanted to find a good home for her.”

According to Vrolyk, who is CEO of San Francisco-based tech platform company Engine Yard, he and Crosby hit it off after being introduced by master shipwright Wayne Ettel who rebuilt Mayan in 2005.

“David’s like a real guy. He’s not stuck up at all,” Vrolyk says. “I think he appreciated that we just interacted like laid back, normal people. Plus, he liked the fact that I’d grown up on boats just like Mayan. He knew she would be in good hands.”

Named Mayan because of her country of origin of Belize, the schooner was originally built in 1947 using Honduran mahogany.

“Genuine Honduran mahogany is some of the most beautiful wood in the world,” Vrolyk said. “You can’t get it anymore.”

In 1967, after being kicked out of The Byrds, Crosby borrowed $25,000 from The Monkees’ Peter Tork and traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in search of a schooner. After buying Mayan and learning how to sail her, Crosby sailed to San Francisco and began living on her full-time in 1970.

In a 2013 Wall Street Journal article, the famously hard-partying Crosby told reporter Marc Myers, “Virtually everyone in rock ‘n’ roll has been on the Mayan. But I didn’t get my boat for partying. I got it to sail. Sure, after we’d dock, we’d go to someone’s house and get completely inappropriately high on a variety of substances, many of which were dangerous and did me a great deal of harm. But partying is not what the boat was about. The boat is higher than a party.”

Today, under new owner Vrolyk’s hand, Mayan will help fight blood cancer by participating in the inaugural Leukemia Cup Regatta on Monterey Bay hosted by the Santa Cruz Yacht Club.

For Vrolyk, it’s a personal cause. His father died of melanoma and his friend and former Santa Cruz Yacht Club Commodore Dave Emberson nearly died of leukemia four years ago.

“It’s a fun race for a serious cause,” Vrolyk says. “We’re starting the slowest boats first so, in theory, we’ll all be finishing at the same time if we’ve calculated the handicaps right.”

Mayan will be one of the first boats underway.

“She’s comfortable, but not fast,” Vrolyk says. “Kind of like Crosby.”

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Crosby, Stills and Nash yacht for sale

• Dick Durham
• March 20, 2009

Rock sea shanties

Some of the most unforgettable tunes of the 1960s by Crosby, Stills and Nash were written aboard a 59ft yacht. Now veteran rocker David Crosby has put his beloved Mayan,an Alden schooner on the market.

Crosby bought her in 1968,and wrote Wooden Ships and Lee Shore aboard her. He once sailed her from Mexico to Hawaii. The Mayan has also hosted stars like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell and features four luxury cabins. Crosby admits it’ll be tough to let his boat go: ‘She’s just scrumptious.’

He said: ‘After 40 years of sailing my Alden Schooner, and writing many of my best songs aboard her I have reached the point where I must let her go.’

The £1 million wooden vessel was built in 1947 and restored in 2005.

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The 20 greatest yacht rock songs ever, ranked

27 July 2022, 17:50

By Tom Eames

We can picture it now: lounging on a swish boat as it bobs along the water, sipping cocktails and improving our tan. Oh, and it's the 1980s.

There's only one style of music that goes with this image: Yacht rock.

What is Yacht Rock?

Also known as the West Coast Sound or adult-oriented rock, it's a style of soft rock from between the late 1970s and early 1980s that featured elements of smooth soul, smooth jazz, R&B, funk, rock and disco.

• The 40 greatest disco songs ever, ranked
• The 10 greatest and smoothest ever sax solos, ranked

Although its name has been used in a negative way, to us it's an amazing genre that makes us feel like we're in an episode of Miami Vice wearing shoulder pads and massive sunglasses.

Here are the very best songs that could be placed in this genre:

Player - 'Baby Come Back'

Player - Baby Come Back

Not the reggae classic of the same name, this 1977 track was Player's biggest hit.

After Player disbanded, singer Peter Beckett joined Australia's Little River Band, and he also wrote 'Twist of Fate' for Olivia Newton-John and 'After All This Time' for Kenny Rogers.

Steely Dan - 'FM'

It's tough just choosing one Steely Dan song for this list, but we've gone for this banger.

Used as the theme tune for the 1978 movie of the same name, the song is jazz-rock track, though its lyrics took a disapproving look at the genre as a whole, which was in total contrast to the film's celebration of it. Still, sounds great guys!

Bobby Goldsboro - 'Summer (The First Time)'

Bobby Goldsboro - Summer (The First Time)

A bit of a questionable subject matter, this ballad was about a 17-year-old boy’s first sexual experience with a 31-year-old woman at the beach.

But using a repeating piano riff, 12-string guitar, and an orchestral string arrangement, this song just screams yacht rock and all that is great about it.

Kenny Loggins - 'Heart to Heart'

Kenny Loggins - Heart To Heart (Official Music Video)

If Michael McDonald is the king of yacht rock, then Kenny Loggins is his trusted advisor and heir to the throne.

This track was co-written with Michael, and also features him on backing vocals. The song is about how most relationships do not stand the test of time, yet some are able to do so.

Airplay - 'Nothing You Can Do About It'

Nothin' You Can Do About It

You might not remember US band Airplay, but they did have their moment on the yacht.

Consisting of David Foster (who also co-wrote the Kenny Loggins song above), Jay Graydon and the brilliantly-named Tommy Funderburk, this tune was a cover of a Manhattan Transfer song, and was a minor hit in 1981.

Boz Scaggs - 'Lowdown'

Boz Scaggs - Lowdown (Official Audio)

We've moved slightly into smooth jazz territory with this track, which is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

The song was co-written by David Paich, who would go on to form Toto along with the song's keyboardist David Paich, session bassist David Hungate, and drummer Jeff Porcaro.

Steve Winwood - 'Valerie'

Steve Winwood - Valerie (Official Video)

This song is probably as far as you can get into pop rock without totally leaving the yacht rock dock.

Legendary singer-songwriter Winwood recorded this gong about a man reminiscing about a lost love he hopes to find again someday.

Eric Prydz later sampled it in 2004 for the house number one track ‘Call on Me’, and presented it to Winwood, who was so impressed he re-recorded the vocals to better fit the track.

Toto - 'Rosanna'

Toto - Rosanna (Official HD Video)

We almost picked 'Africa' , but we reckon this tune just about pips it in the yacht rock game.

Written by David Paich, he has said that the song is based on numerous girls he had known.

As a joke, the band members initially played along with the common assumption that the song was based on actress Rosanna Arquette, who was dating Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro at the time and coincidentally had the same name.

Chicago - 'Hard to Say I'm Sorry'

Chicago - Hard To Say I'm Sorry (Official Music Video)

Chicago began moving away from their horn-driven soft rock sound with their early 1980s output, including this synthesizer-filled power ballad.

• The 10 greatest Chicago songs, ranked

The album version segued into a more traditional Chicago upbeat track titled ‘Get Away’, but most radio stations at the time opted to fade out the song before it kicked in. Three members of Toto played on the track. Those guys are yacht rock kings!

Michael Jackson - 'Human Nature'

Michael Jackson - Human Nature (Audio)

A few non-rock artists almost made this list ( George Michael 's 'Careless Whisper' and Spandau Ballet 's 'True' are almost examples, but not quite), yet a big chunk of Thriller heavily relied on the yacht rock sound.

Michael Jackson proved just how popular the genre could get with several songs on the album, but 'Human Nature' is the finest example.

The Doobie Brothers - 'What a Fool Believes'

The Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes (Official Music Video)

Possibly THE ultimate yacht rock song on the rock end of the spectrum, and it's that man Michael McDonald.

Written by McDonald and Kenny Loggins, this was one of the few non-disco hits in America in the first eight months of 1979.

The song tells the story of a man who is reunited with an old love interest and attempts to rekindle a romantic relationship with her before discovering that one never really existed.

Michael Jackson once claimed he contributed at least one backing track to the original recording, but was not credited for having done so. This was later denied by the band.

Christopher Cross - 'Sailing'

Christopher Cross - Sailing (Official Audio)

We're not putting this in here just because it's called 'Sailing', it's also one of the ultimate examples of the genre.

Christopher Cross reached number one in the US in 1980, and VH1 later named it the most "softsational soft rock" song of all time.

Don Henley - 'The Boys of Summer'

The Boys Of Summer DON HENLEY(1984) OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

Mike Campbell wrote the music to this track while working on Tom Petty’s Southern Accents album, but later gave it to Eagles singer Don Henley, who wrote the lyrics.

The song is about the passing of youth and entering middle age, and of a past relationship. It was covered twice in the early 2000s: as a trance track by DJ Sammy in 2002, and as a pop punk hit by The Ataris in 2003.

England Dan and John Cord Foley - 'I'd Really Love to See You Tonight'

England Dan & John Ford Coley - I'd Really Love To See You Tonight.avi

A big hit for this duo in 1976, it showcases the very best of the sock rock/AOR/yacht rock sound that the 1970s could offer.

Dan Seals is the younger brother of Jim Seals of Seals and Crofts fame. Which leads to...

Seals & Crofts - 'Summer Breeze'

Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft #1 Hit(1972)

Before The Isley Brothers recorded a slick cover, 'Summer Breeze' was an irresistible folk pop song by Seals & Crofts.

While mostly a folk song, its summer vibes and gorgeous melody make for a perfect yacht rock number.

Christopher Cross - 'Ride Like the Wind'

Ride Like The Wind Promo Video 1980 Christopher Cross

If Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins are in charge of the yacht rock ship, then Christopher Cross has to be captain, right? Cabin boy? Something anyway.

The singer was arguably the biggest success story of the relatively short-lived yacht rock era, and this one still sounds incredible.

Eagles - 'I Can't Tell You Why'

The eagles - I can't tell you why (AUDIO VINYL)

Many Eagles tunes could be classed as yacht rock, but we reckon their finest example comes from this track from their The Long Run album in 1979.

Don Henley described the song as "straight Al Green", and that Glenn Frey, an R&B fan, was responsible for the R&B feel of the song. Frey said to co-writer Timothy B Schmit: "You could sing like Smokey Robinson . Let’s not do a Richie Furay, Poco-sounding song. Let’s do an R&B song."

Gerry Rafferty - 'Baker Street'

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street (Official Video)

Gerry Rafferty probably didn't realise he was creating one of the greatest yacht rock songs of all time when he wrote this, but boy did he.

• The Story of... 'Baker Street'

With the right blend of rock and pop and the use of the iconic saxophone solo, you can't not call this yacht rock at its finest.

Michael McDonald - 'Sweet Freedom'

Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom (1986)

If you wanted to name the king of yacht rock, you'd have to pick Michael McDonald . He could sing the phone book and it would sound silky smooth.

Possibly his greatest solo tune, it was used in the movie  Running Scared , and its music video featured actors Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines.

Hall & Oates - 'I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)'

Daryl Hall & John Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) (Official Video)

This duo knew how to make catchy hit after catchy hit. This R&B-tinged pop tune was co-written with Sara Allen (also the influence for their song 'Sara Smile').

• Hall and Oates' 10 best songs, ranked

John Oates has said that the song is actually about the music business. "That song is really about not being pushed around by big labels, managers, and agents and being told what to do, and being true to yourself creatively."

Not only was the song sampled in De La Soul's 'Say No Go' and Simply Red 's 'Home', but Michael Jackson also admitted that he lifted the bass line for 'Billie Jean'!

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Ultimate sailing playlist: 20 songs to listen to onboard your boat

• Katy Stickland

From ballads by Van Morrison and Neil Young to the 80s Duran Duran hit, Rio, and the haunting vocals of Nick Cave, these songs will certainly suit any sailing mood

Rio by Duran Duran. Credit: You Tube

In no particular order, this is our sailing playlist. We would love to hear yours! Share it with us at @ybw

‘Into the Mystic’ – Van Morrison

Possibly one of the most iconic songs to sail to.

Van Morrison’s lyrics tell of a sailor heading home to his lover, although there has been much debate as to whether there is a deeper meaning.

Whatever the answer, this warm ballad will certainly get you singing along.

‘The Ship Song’ – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Named as one of the 30 best Australian songs of all time, The Ship Song is a beautiful, tender ballad, which will leave you with a lump in your throat and have you wiping the tears away before you know it.

It has been covered by the likes of Pearl Jam, Martha Wainwright and Crowded House.

But none of them reach the depths of Nick Cave’s version. Best for a night sail.

‘Lost Sailor’ – Grateful Dead

No list would be complete without a song from the eclectic American rock legends, The Grateful Dead.

Not the ideal song to play if you’re nervous about your navigation or you are adrift, but otherwise a solid classic.

‘Sail On’ – The Commodores

Written by Lionel Ritchie, this Commodores hit from 1979 will particularly resonate if you’ve gone sailing to get over a breakup.

The crew will definitely be belting out the chorus, helping to lift the mood.

‘Sail Away’ – David Gray

In 2001 you couldn’t escape David Gray’s song  – it was being played everywhere!

Years later, and this song of escape has certainly grown on us. Best to listen to while passage planning – it will certainly inspire.

‘Rock the Boat’ – Hues Corporation

Catchy and instantly recognisable, this somewhat cheesy disco hit from 1974 is a guaranteed deck filler – with moves that won’t make the skipper nervous. A great team builder.

‘Sailing’ – Rod Stewart

No playlist would be complete without including Rod Stewart’s international hit from 1975.

The whole crew will be singing along!

‘Ship to Wreck’ – Florence and the Machine

Despite its sobering message, this upbeat indie folk/soft pop rock was a hit in 2015 for Florence and the Machine.

Good for reflective moments onboard.

‘Night boat to Cairo’ – Madness

For when you need to lighten the mood on board, the silliness of Madness is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of even the most hardened crew member.

Might be best to leave the Madness dance moves for dry land though!

‘Proud Mary’ – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Finally a song about an actual boat..or is it?

Originally, John Fogerty of Creedence wrote the lyrics with the story of a maid in mind before Stu Cook introduced the boat aspect. Inspired by a paddlewheel going round on a river boat, Fogerty then wrote the memorable opening chords and the rest was history.

A sing along 1969 classic, and one that any guitarist amongst the crew will be happy to accompany.

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‘When the Ship Comes In’ – The Pogues

Originally written and performed by Bob Dylan, after he had trouble checking into a hotel room because of his unkempt appearance (something all long term cruisers can relate to!), When the Ship Comes In has been covered by Peter, Paul and Mary, The Chieftains,  The Hollies and Billy Bragg.

We particularly like this version by The Pogues, as it’s a guaranteed foot tapper, and will get any boat party started.

‘Ship of Fools’ – Robert Plant

This 1988 rock hit from Robert Plant is perfect for the passive-aggressive skipper who is frustrated by his crew.

 ‘Come Sail Away’ – Styx

Impossible to listen to without the version sung by Eric Cartman from the adult cartoon South Park coming into your head.

This eclectic song, which features a ballad opening and a guitar heavy second half, is a great play for those with frustrations on board.

Just hope you don’t meet any aliens on passage! (Styx fans will know what we mean!)

‘If You Were A Sailboat’ – Katie Melua

Perfect for wooing a fellow crew member (although we will skip over the selfish lover part of the song), this beautiful 2007 Katie Melua hit is sublime to listen to. Great for relaxing onboard.

‘Shipbuilding’ – Elvis Costello

Written by Elvis Costello during the Falklands War in 1982, this haunting song, featuring sublime piano and trumpet, still resonates today. For those reflective moments on board while discussing the state of the world with the crew.

‘Single-handed sailor’ – Dire Straits

Guitarist Mark Knopfler wrote this 1979 hit as a tribute to one of the world’s greatest single-handed sailors – Sir Francis Chichester. This has to feature on the playlist of anyone skippering solo.

 ‘Cripple Creek Ferry’ – Neil Young

Sailor and legendary singer Neil Young’s song, Cripple Creek Ferry has a cheery feel, and is ideal for bringing the crew together.

‘There is a ship’ – Peter, Paul and Mary

Nothing better than the sweet vocals of Mary Travers for when you need a quiet moment on board.

‘A Sailor’s Life’ – Fairport Convention

This traditional folk song from the 1700s is about a young woman searching for her missing lover, a sailor. It has been covered many times, but Fairport Convention’s 1969 version stands out because of the unique way it merges folk with rock.

Despite the sad nature of the song, it is a feast for the ears. A must listen while winding down from watch.

‘Rio’ – Duran Duran

Okay so this song title is about a woman not a boat, but we had to include it not only for Simon Le Bon  who also happens to be a sailor, but just so we could ogle the stunning 70ft ketch with Fife lines used in the music video.

Called ‘Eilean’ – the yacht didn’t fare well after being made famous as a result of Duran Duran’s classic 80s song. It sank while awaiting repairs and had to be salvaged and then was abandoned. Decades later she was lovingly restored.

And for those who prefer something more traditional, there are plenty of sea shanties to choose from.

Uffa Fox sings songs of the Salty Sea or Uffa Sings Sea Shanties and Jack Ashore Songs are both classics!

Or if you are a fan of the spoken word, then ‘The Alec Rose Story’ Lively Lady features the famous globe trotting sailor narrating his voyages set to orchestral music.

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Boat name ideas: 21 tacks to take when naming your boat.

Post by Becky at Dockwa - Published on 04/28/21 12:00 PM

Do you stay traditional and name your boat after a sweetheart? If you've been jilted, do you name your boat something bitter as a form of catharsis? If you're not interested in naming your boat after a dame, your boat's name could represent a struggle you've overcome, a quest you're beginning, or something as simple as the cocktail you plan on sipping while at the helm.  Learn how to name your boat and see some of the country's best boat names.  

While you're here: Get the free Dockwa app , create your free account , scope out some sweet dockage discounts , or find your next long-term slip or mooring . 

Jokers beware: as the  British NERC researchers  can tell you, the name of your boat says a lot about you, and leaves a lasting impression.

To take a page out of the Halcyon Passages boating blog: 

You can name your boat anything you want to and my opinion is just that. And that opinion is that a name should be one word sometimes two, but one if you can do it. Under no circumstances should it be a whole sentence. ...I miss the days of boats with real names like, Victory, Ranger, Dauntless, and Endeavor.  When I send a distress call announcing that the vessel, that I have treated with such pride and respect, is taking me straight to the bottom, the Coast Guard undoubtedly will say, “Holy cow, now that’s a great boat name.”

How to Choose A Boat Name

1. check how common it is.

Before choosing a name, please give it a run through one of the boat name databases available online, and check out the annual BoatUS Top 10 Boat Names List . If you choose a popular name, and in particular a name that is popular in your boating region, there's a good chance you'll eventually cross paths with your name-doppelgänger and cause some confusion over the radio waves.

2. Check for adaptability

Imagine the scenarios in which you'll say or hear your boat's name. Envision yourself needing to call your boat name over a VHF, as you'll likely need to do many times before you and your boat part ways. As per PropTalk's recommendation, "Imagine yourself using this new name three times on Channel 16. Consider how easy it is to say and how easy it is for other boats to understand." What will it look like if your boat makes front-page headlines?

If you're a sailor, imagine winning a regatta. Do you want to hear "Congratulations,  B-Yacht'ch !" when you approach the podium? (...Maybe! It actually has a fun ring to it.) Once you've chosen a name, head to the  United States Coast Guard site  to make it official.

3. Make it official

Once you've settled on a name, you can head over to the United States Coast Guard site to get all the information you need to make it official.

Boat Name Superstitions

Once named, superstition dictates that it's bad luck to change the name of a boat. But if you must, check out this blog to see the tradition that follows (as with most things in boating), which can clear your boat of bad juju.  One boat renaming ceremony we found: place a piece of paper with the boat name on it in a small box, burn the box, then release the ashes into the sea or river. If you're not one for superstition, you're not alone – mainly as this one may have come about to dodge the attention of tax agencies when a large ship changed hands.

Popular Boat Name Categories

Don't call it a comeback! By far the easiest way to name a boat: ditch its predecessor. Whether your last vessel had a run-in with the sea floor or you wanted an upgrade, calling your second, third, and fourth boat after the first is a breeze. You don't even have to change the artwork on the boat decal. If you're attached to a boat name, there's no shame in wanting to keep it. Rendezvous II, Abigail Rose II, Act III, Adventure Us IIII – all names worthy of a second life.

Our favorite Repeat boat name in this category in 2016:  Nailed It Again

The 2017 Dockwa team favorites:  Double Down II ,  Karma II ,  Ship of Fools III

2018: Final Escape Plan and CurrentSea  

2019:  Have A Fun III – see the backstory and all the favorites of 2019

2020: Ai-Ki  – see the backstory and all the favorites of 2020  

2021: Sans Souci  – see the backstory and all 2021 favorites

The Workaholic

Whether you're obsessed with your job, want to reference how much you hate it, or see boating as a business networking opportunity, naming your boat something related to your occupation opens up a world of boat name puns to help break the ice when you're out on the water.

Our favorites of 2016:  Exit Strategy, Knot On Call , and  Floating Doc

2017's workhorses (or work-escapees):  FHARFRUMWORKEN  and  Aye Doctor

2018:  Effervescence and Monkey Sea  

2019:  Plane To Sea 

2020: Between Wakes

2021: Bone Voyage

The Love Boat

Naming a boat after the love of your life doesn't just score brownie points; it carries on an age-old tradition of naming ships after wives.

Our pals at GetMyBoat did the research on this one:

There are several theories about how this came to be. One is that since the word for “ship” in the languages of the Mediterranean was feminine, the gender of the ship remained the same even in languages in which the word for ship or boat was male or gender-neutral. Another theory is that since boats were traditionally given female names, they became associated with women. In addition, working boats and ships were historically manned by all-male crews. Some ships, like whaling ships, would be at sea for years at a time, and would have a closer relationship with the boat than the mothers, wives, or sweethearts they left behind on shore. Legend has it that ships would sometimes behave like women too, with their own personalities and the specific ways they liked to be handled.

In the Dockwa boat list we found a few  Carol Annes , a handful of  Jenny s, a  Jeaninne III  and a slew of boats named after their missus's -  Miss Molly, Miss Megan, Miss Maggie , the list goes on.

Our favorite Dockwa boat name in 2016:  Captain's Lady . Gotta give the captain credit for the built-in flexibility.

Our 2017 pick:  Sweet Caroline . Even if you're not a Boston fan, we love a boat name that gets the harbor humming.

2018: Lost Keys 

2019: Mr. T and Me 

2020: Platinum Dream

2021: P aumanok and Booger

The Weatherbird

The Eskimo language may have more than 100 words for "snow," but we'd be willing to bet that the number of terms for wind puts that to shame. As well there should be – every day on the breeze is different. So if a particular day or type of wind strikes your fancy, or stays with you for reasons you can't quite describe, perhaps you're a Weatherbird.

Our favorite wind-related Dockwa boat names in 2016:  Second Wind , and  Wind Chaser

The 2017 favorite:  Bris de Mer , which a boater relayed to us translates into French for "Breaking of Sea" – Sea Breaker. Lovely!

2018:  Stella Maris 

2019: Sowwanin II

2020: Irish Hurricane

2021: Witch of November

The Competitor You know them when you see them. When you read the name on the scratch sheet, these are the boats that give you a chill. You don't just want it to win. You want it to crush every other boat in the regatta. Comanche, Dark Star, and SPOOKIE are some of our favorites to see on the start lines. Favorite competitive boat names of 2016:  Triumph  and  STOLEN Our fastest pick for 2017:  Flight Risk 2018:  Bird of Prey 2019: None this year, but to make up for it we added a "Boater's Best Friend" category. This year's winner was Bosun:  We named our boat as well as our dog Bosun. Both are well trusted, dependable, and reliable. The definition of “bosun” suits both the dog as well as our boat well: "a ship's officer in charge of equipment and the crew." – Chris W., Rowayton, CT.  Check out this new category! 2020:  Lady Minx 2021: Miss Mayhem Goddess, Spirits, and Legends Boating can teach you several things: resourcefulness, independence, geography, cooking, and, of course, a wealth of information about obscure Germanic/Greek/Norse deities, fantastic legends, and eerie seafaring stories. Looking to tales is an excellent way to find a name for your boat that is unique and classic. A few of our favorites:  Calliope , the Greek muse often associated with eloquence and epic poetry,  Valkyrie , the Norse figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live, and  Freyja , a Norse goddess associated with love, sex, beauty, fertility , and gold. Our favorite goddess-themed boat name of 2016:  Hespera , the Greek spirit of immortality. 2017's pick: We like the sound of  Pyewacket , which was one of the spirits in the story of the witches of Essex, England, in 1644, described as both an imp and a polecat by the "witch" who claimed they visited her. If not that origin story, the boat could be named for the 1967 children's novel of the same name, in which the main character is an alley cat.  2018:  Dea Latis  2019:  Alobar 2020: Vayu 2021: PINCOYA The Heartstrings Whether you had your heart broken or lost your fortune in a drunken night of gambling–or both–naming a boat after your tale of woe can be cathartic. For instance, we can't imagine a vessel named After Child Support  had happy beginnings. The boat name that most stood out in the Dockwa roster:  Life's a Wreck . Hope everything's okay, buddy! 2017's, er, winners:  Bittersweet  and  Grumpy Old Man .  2018: Solace , No Regrets , Fighting Lady , and T n T Too  2019:  Knot A Day Goes By  2020: Burnt Out 2021: Peregrine The Musician Three Little Birds, Comfortably Numb, Aleggro, Adagio, Calypso, Cantada  –captains love music! From classical to contemporary, naming your boat after your favorite tune can give you a theme song to blast as you leave the harbor (we're looking at you,  Wild T'ing ), or a go-to to crank up once you've reached calm waters and are sipping on wine. Our favorite musically-themed boat name of 2016:  White Album , who apparently chose the name to avoid having to put the name on the hull.  Our 2017 pick:  The Madman Across the Water . Kudos to this captain for being boating-apropos while showing us there's more to  the Elton John album  than Tiny Dancer. We also love  Hotel California  – if we see that boat we'd expect the crew aboard to be living it up while living aboard.  2018:  Three Little Birds 2019:  Row Jimmy 2020: Bellini 2021: Alestorm The Fun-Lovin' Free-Wheeler! Boat Drinks! Comfortably Numb! Yolo!  You'll get no judgment from us. People buy boats for different reasons, and if yours is to have a boozy getaway on the water, so be it! But, be careful with this naming category. If the name is too on the nose, "Getting Slizzard" anyone?, don't be surprised when Coasties show up to survey the scene. Our favorite fun-lovin' boat name of 2016:  Zimbabalooba! Sounds like a wacky good time.  For 2017, we have a soft spot for  Dune Buggy . We imagine this is a sporty little runabout!  2018: Mad Cap 2019:  Too Much Weekend 2020: Weekend Bender 2021: Bad Idea The Pop Culture Fan From the The S.S. Minnow to Cast Away to the Pirate Ship Revenge , harbors always seem to have their fair share of pop culture references.  Our favorite pop-culture boat name of 2016:  Honey Badger . We assume this boat's namesake is the  2011 nature video  that went viral after some creative narrating, which would lead us to also assume that the owners of this boat don't care and have a pretty fun sense of humor.  2017's winner:  Kobayashi Maru  hands down. The name is apropos for referencing the captain's test in J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek reboot, and has an even sweeter connotation for Trek fans who know that this test is designed to be unbeatable, to see how a captain reacts in a no-win scenario. (Spoiler alert) Even better: the test is beaten by a captain who doesn't believe in no-win scenarios. Live long and prosper.  2018:  Squalus  2019:  Shortshank Redemption  2020: McHale’s Navy 2021: Millenium Dolphin The Pun Master Some people love a good pun–enough to slap one on the stern of a boat that will likely be one of the most significant investments they make in their life. Pun names are harmless, even if they are groan-worthy, to name a few:  ABSeas, Comocean, YEAH BOUY, Knot So Fast, Nauti Girl, Ships n' Giggles, Fanta-Sea,  and  Extra-Sea . Catamaran owners seem particularly guilty of indulging in puns, with names like  Cat-astrophe, KatAttack, Katnip, and  Katatonic . And then there are the puns that get a bit more risque–the afore-mentioned  B-Yacht'ch ,  Morning Wood , and  Master Baiter (Do you bring your mothers on that boat?). We'll keep things a little more G-Rated for our boat name pick.

Our favorite punny boat name of 2016:  Seas the Dream .

2017's punmaster: Whichever pirate owns  Arrr-n-Arrrr . 

2018:  Jaunty

2019:  Ship Show

2020: DEBAITABLE

2021: Pied à mer 

The Storyteller When perusing the long list of Dockwa boaters, many don't fit into one of the previous categories, and some in particular give pause. Twenty Two Bucks ? What's the story there? Witch of Tilloo ? Definitely needed to google that. Did the owner of Triple Dog Dare Ya buy their boat on a dare?  Ou r 2016 favorite boat name:  Against All Odds . 2017:  Chocolate Socks.  If you see a vessel by this name at your docks or on your mooring field, please approach with caution and get the story of this odd name. 2018:  OH NO 2019:  Deja Blue 2020: Off The Rails 2021: Sheekasay The Linguist In 2017 we updated this post to include another category, as we felt compelled salute captains whose boat names are nod to a cultural sentiment they appreciate or their own family's culture. This year's pick s:  Andiamo! , Italian for "Let's go!" and  Ladatio , which we've learned is Hindi for "scandal." 2018's favorite:  Satori Blue 2019:  Lagniappe 2020: Tallawah 2021: Hahalua All in the Family 2018:  OutNumbered : I am fortunate to have a wonderful wife & two teenage daughters... however I am truly outnumbered at home & in everything I do. We laugh that people at various ports/marinas sometimes ask if I am an accountant or deal with numbers to which I respond, you will see in a minute as the family comes aboard! – Dan F., Newport RI 2019:  Thisldu 2020: Beau Twyde 2021: The Belfry and Muthashp Paying Homage 2018:  Gray Ghost : My boat is a gray Robalo R227 named after my father’s ship in the navy. Officially the USS Newport News, the heavy cruiser earned the nickname “The Gray Ghost from the East Coast” during her service in Vietnam, due to numerous missions taking fire without being hit. Her sister ship USS Salem is berthed in Quincy MA. – Randy B.  2019:  Nauti Nelli 2020: Cupecoy 2021: Steinsvika Dinghy Duos We've seen some cute as heck dinghy names over the past year and thought they warranted their category. We, of course, love when they have their boat name backstory, particularly when they're a standalone vessel instead of a +1, but we also love when the name is a nod to the mothership.  2020: A close family friend joined the Special Operations Unit for the Marines and was KIA. During his brutal training where all he wanted to do was give up he would recite the phrase in his head "Beast mode no breaks." This phrase became common among our families aft er. Our boat is named Beast Mode and our tender is named No Breaks .  2021: Bubblecuffer A Boater's Best Friend 2019: Bosun 2020: Alpha Dog 2021: Gunny's Dream Literary Reference Boat Names 2020: SKYMARK  came from a poem from Robert Frost bemoaning being somewhat lost at sea on a cloudy night and asking the clouds to part so he could find his old "sky marks" in the heavens so he could once again determine his location; thus the name. I have used it since my first sailboat in 1981. 2021: Vagrant Gypsy Money Matters 2020: Bottom's Up : Purchased from the funds of liquor sales at Bourbon Street Pub in Key West.  – Conch Harbor Marine, Key West, FL 2021: Ka-Ching and A LOAN AT SEA   These Modern Times / Current Event Boat Names 2020 : Covid Therapy : Boat the boat while stressing out about being quarantined during Covid 19 and thinking there will be nothing to do in the summer – hence our new boat! 2021: Lake Mode , @sea.calm , and Social Distins Change of Pace A frequent theme we've spotted with boat names is that the owner(s) have decided to slow things down, downsize, upsize (usually upsize), or, as was the case of our 2020 winners, finally take charge of tackling their boating bucket list at breakneck speed.   2020:  Here Today : Here Today was launched In January 2019 in the Virgin Islands and has traveled to 57 different ports from the Caribbean to New England – for our short stays we are “Here Today”! 2021: Call Me Crazy and Last Dance

Want more Boat Names? See all of our favorites and honorable mentions of years past (updated annually).

What good is a great boat name if you don't show it off? Go exploring this summer! Set up your free Dockwa account and find your next adventure.

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Sailing Songs – The Ultimate Sailor’s Playlist

05 Aug Sailing Songs – The Ultimate Sailor’s Playlist

Music and sailing just seem to go together – we all have our favorite sailing songs, right? There’s something about the wind and the water, the motion of the boat, and that laid back sailing lifestyle that begs to be put to music. A good sailing song can transport you to another time and place – where things are simpler, and your only worry is the strength and direction of the breeze.

One cold and snowy day last winter, I asked a group of sailors for their favorite sailing songs. I took their suggestions, added some of my personal favorites, and came up with Sailing Songs – The Ultimate Sailor’s Playlist   – just in time to be the soundtrack for the rest of your summer sailing adventures.

This list covers a lot of ground – from Harry Belafonte to Jimmy Buffett to Led Zeppelin to Zac Brown. Because this playlist was generated by sailors, for sailors, there are songs about boats, sailors, the ocean, islands, and – of course – rum. From standards like “Sail On, Sailor” and “Southern Cross” to newer classics like (slightly profane, but hilarious) “I’m On A Boat” and the beautifully melancholy “Boat Song” there’s a little something here for everyone.

You can listen here by clicking on any of the songs in the list, or subscribe to the playlist on Spotify . And for you music nerds out there, here’s the complete list in alphabetical order by song.

Hopefully you’ll find your favorite sailing songs here – and discover some new boat tunes as well. Enjoy, and happy sailing!

Get ready for sailing season! We’ve covered all the bases for you – our 3 part series will have you ready to get on the water asap. 

Part 1: Safety First

Part 2: Sailing Bag Essentials

Part 3: What to Wear Sailing

399+ Sail Boat Names (BEST Ideas)

Tom derbyshire.

Posted on: March 20, 2023

Updated on: September 18, 2023

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As a boat owner, naming your vessel is an important step in the process of buying a boat .

A boat name is more than just a label, it’s a reflection of the personality of the vessel and its owner. A perfect boat name can be catchy, memorable, and can evoke emotion.

In this blog post, we’ve compiled a list of 399+ sail boat names to help you find the perfect name for your vessel.

Let’s dive in.

Best Sail Boat Names

• Ocean Dreamer
• Blue Horizon
• Aqua Marine
• Ocean Whisperer
• Oceanic Explorer
• Seaside Escape
• Sea Serpent
• Island Hopper
• Sea Explorer
• Sea Voyager
• Ocean Voyager

Good Names For A Sail Boat

• Wind Dancer
• Ocean Cruiser
• Ocean Jewel
• Ocean Pearl
• Ocean Quest
• Sea Trekker
• Ocean Rover
• Aqua Explorer
• Ocean Seeker
• Wind Seeker

Cool Sail Boat Names

• Blue Thunder
• Sea Thunder
• Ocean Thunder
• Wave Thunder
• Aqua Thunder
• Sea Warrior
• Ocean Warrior
• Aqua Warrior
• Wind Warrior
• Ocean Rebel
• Sea Guardian
• Ocean Guardian
• Aqua Guardian
• Wind Guardian
• Sea Maverick
• Ocean Maverick
• Aqua Maverick
• Wind Maverick
• Ocean Blaze

Badass Sail Boat Monikers

• Black Pearl
• Dark Knight
• Ocean Predator
• Sea Predator
• Ocean Demon
• Storm Chaser
• Sea Monster
• Ocean Monster
• Aqua Monster
• Wind Monster
• Ocean Viper
• Sea Assassin
• Ocean Assassin
• Aqua Assassin
• Wind Assassin

Unique Names For A Sail Boat

• Mystic Mermaid
• Wind Whisperer
• Ocean Nymph
• Ocean Sprite
• Aqua Sprite
• Wind Sprite
• Ocean Queen
• Ocean Witch
• Sea Enchantress
• Ocean Enchantress
• Aqua Enchantress
• Wind Enchantress

Catchy Sail Boat Monikers

• Sea N Stars
• Sea Ya Later
• Sea Batical
• Wave Catcher
• Ocean Motion
• Aqua Vision
• Wind Chaser
• Seas the Day
• Ocean Drive
• Ocean Breeze
• Aqua Escape
• Aqua Paradise

Famous Names For A Sail Boat

• Black Magic
• Golden Gate
• Stars & Stripes
• Mari-Cha III
• Morning Light

Romantic Names For A Sail Boat

• Sea of Love
• Wind of Love
• Sea Romance
• Ocean Romance
• Aqua Romance
• Wind Romance
• Sea Charmer
• Ocean Charmer
• Aqua Charmer
• Wind Charmer
• Ocean Heart
• Ocean Lover

Funny Sail Boat Names

• Ship Happens
• Seas the Moment
• A Boat Time
• Sea Horsing Around
• Sea N Double
• Seas the Cheese
• Seas the Wine
• Seas the Beer
• Sea U Later

Stylish Sail Boat Monikers

• Ocean Style
• Ocean Class
• Sea Elegance
• Ocean Elegance
• Aqua Elegance
• Wind Elegance
• Sea Sophisticate
• Ocean Sophisticate
• Aqua Sophisticate
• Wind Sophisticate

Aquatic Sail Boat Monikers

• Whale Watcher
• Dolphin Dive
• Shark Attack
• Crab Crawler
• Squid Squirt
• Seagull Soarer
• Pelican Perch
• Jellyfish Jig
• Manatee Mover
• Lobster Lure
• Swordfish Swash
• Seahorse Sprint
• Eel Evasion
• Kraken Krawl

Nature-Inspired Sail Boat Monikers

• Stormy Weather
• Sunset Sail
• Sunrise Cruiser
• Rainbow Rider
• Moonlight Sonata
• Northern Lights
• Southern Cross
• Aurora Borealis
• Summer Breeze
• Autumn Leaves
• Winter Wind
• Spring Fling
• Purple Haze
• Golden Beach

Legendary Sail Boat Monikers

• Blackbeard’s Revenge
• Flying Dutchman
• H.M.S. Bounty
• Jolly Roger
• Mary Celeste
• Queen Anne’s Revenge
• Red October
• Santa Maria
• U.S.S. Constitution
• White Pearl

Nautical Sail Boat Monikers

• Anchor’s Away
• Port Starboard
• Buoyant Beauty
• The Skipper
• The Admiral
• The Captain’s Crew
• The First Mate
• The Navigator
• The Helmsman
• The Deckhand
• The Coxswain
• The Lookout
• The Masthead
• The Rigging

Maritime Sail Boat Monikers

• Atlantic Voyager
• Pacific Explorer
• Indian Ocean Odyssey
• Mediterranean Maven
• Baltic Beauty
• Caribbean Cruiser
• Gulf of Mexico Getaway
• North Sea Navigator
• South China Sea Seeker
• Tyrrhenian Treasure
• Aegean Adventure
• Black Sea Beauty
• Bay of Biscay Bliss
• English Channel Challenger
• Irish Sea Intrigue
• Norwegian Nightmare
• Red Sea Rascal
• Sea of Cortez Serenade
• Tasmanian Treasure
• Caspian Cruiser
• Gulf of Guinea Glory
• Labrador Lark
• Bering Strait Beauty
• Sea of Japan Joy

Creative Names For A Sail Boat

• Sea Serenade
• Ocean Odyssey
• Sea Whisperer
• Ocean’s Eleven
• Ocean’s Jewel
• Ocean’s Treasure
• Ocean’s Bounty
• Ocean’s Majesty
• Ocean’s Roar
• Ocean’s Fury
• Ocean’s Grace
• Ocean’s Promise
• Ocean’s Pride
• Ocean’s Glory

Vintage Sail Boat Names

• Yankee Clipper
• Constitution
• Chrysanthemum
• Southern Belle
• Belle of the Bay
• Lady of the Lake
• The Mermaid
• The Flying Fish

Colorful Names For A Sail Boat

• Purple Rain
• Yellow Submarine
• Pink Flamingo
• Orange Crush
• White Diamond
• Silver Streak
• Scarlet Fever
• Lavender Lady
• Citrus Splash
• Midnight Blue
• Emerald Isle
• Sapphire Sea
• Amber Waves
• Turquoise Treasure
• Aquamarine Adventure
• Jade Journey
• Coral Crush
• Pearl of the Sea

Adventurous Sail Boat Names

• Trailblazer
• Pirate’s Booty
• Treasure Hunter
• Swashbuckler

Name Inspiration

If you’re struggling to come up with a name for your sailboat, consider these sources of inspiration:

• Your favorite places: Think about places that you love or have special meaning to you. Maybe you want to name your boat after your favorite beach or your hometown.
• Your favorite things: Consider hobbies, activities, or interests that you love. For example, if you love to fish, you might want to name your boat after a type of fish.
• Your boat’s characteristics: Take a look at your boat and think about its color, shape, or features. Maybe you want to name it after its sleek design or its bright red sails.
• Famous sailors: Consider naming your boat after a famous sailor or explorer who inspires you.
• Personal connections: Think about people or things that are important to you. Maybe you want to name your boat after a loved one or a pet.

Help Choosing the Perfect Name

Choosing the perfect name for your sailboat can be a daunting task.

Here are a few tips to help you make the right choice:

• Consider the size and style of your boat. A sleek, modern boat might warrant a cool or stylish name, while a classic wooden boat might call for a more traditional name.
• Think about the location where you will be sailing. A sailboat that will be used primarily in the tropics might inspire a name that evokes sun, sand, and sea, while a boat used in colder, northern waters might warrant a name that evokes strength and endurance.
• Consider the personality of the boat’s owner. A fun-loving sailor might want a name that is playful or humorous, while a more serious sailor might want a name that is strong and classic.
• Brainstorm a list of potential names and then narrow it down. Ask friends and family for their opinions, and consider how the name will look on the side of your boat.
• Remember that the name of your boat will be with you for a long time, so choose a name that you truly love and that reflects your personality and style.

Naming your sailboat can be a fun and creative process. Whether you choose a name that is traditional, adventurous, or playful, the right name can make your boat feel like an extension of your personality and style.

Use this list of sailboat names as inspiration and remember to take your time in choosing the perfect name for your vessel. Happy sailing!

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