Didn't see the part about steam/sail. Under sail he may be hearing the ship cutting though the water & hearing the bow wake as the ship dips, plunges or crashes into following sea (you're traveling with the waves) but not directly into a head wind (you'd have to sail at an angle or steam into a headwind) or the sound of the wind in the rigging & the sound of the sail, like if she's luffing or straining. Also he could be looking at, deepending on the rig (ship, bark, barkentine, brig, brigantine or one of the many types of schooners) a spanker (the farther aft most fore & aft sail) with it's spanker boom hanging some times far out over the stern of the boat. The boom may rest, when not being used, in the gallows or spanker gallows (also called a cradle or crutch), which would be a board that sits vertically between the davits & has one or more notches in it for the boom to rest in. Another thought about what's to look at. Weither landlubber or seasoned sailor both will start to check out the seas & skies around them. Both will tell them what's in store & how the yoyage is gonna feel. Both will watch the stars, the moon, the clouds, the sun, the seas & waves, the flat calm, the direction of the wind & ship & sail, the horizon, the rain, rise & fall of the vessel & it's roll & pitch, the smell of the ship & seas. These tell all about what's happening & what's about to happen.
Barry