Why is it a cardinal sin to listen to your ipod/mp3 player etc on the water? I train by myself on the water and have found it invaluable especially for the longer efforts.

One of the several million reasons why you should NOT train with an mp3 player on the water would be this one. Use every minute you spend on the water to train your body and your mind to the task. In a race, however long it lasts, it’s a big advantage to stay focused 100% on the task the whole way. From start to finish, you must be thinking about the right things, technique, technical points, and you must be ready to put absolutely everything you have into the race till the finish line. Use the long distance workouts to get mentally strong. Think about technique every second, analyze every stroke you take and try to take a better stroke next. There is a time to listen to Brit, and there is a time to train.