I just got Pirates! in a recent sale and as soon as I got to playing the 1987 version I noticed this beeping noise at random times while I'm sailing. Its not monotone, more of a "wheee-OOP-wheee-OOP" if that makes any sense. I've looked over the manual already and can't find any info on it. and just to clarify, it happens at completely random times at sea, not when im sailing over shoals or something like that. I'd appreciate it if someone could help me out so i can continue playing this great game!

I think it's supposed to be the wind gusts.

That was all I could think of, too. That, or some weird glitch. The Apple II version I played way back in the day didn't make noise like that!

It's generic sailing noises.

It's just really badly emulated sound of wind blowing. I miss the Commodore 64 sounds from when I played the game originally; it was much higher quality.

It's the sound of mermaids of course