Saying sayonara to seasickness

Barfing on your boat. If we haven’t done it ourselves, we at least know of those who have. Estimations are that about one in three people experience this form of motion sickness. With numbers that high, it’s likely that if you’re a frequent boater, you’re either going to experience it or have a passenger who will. And with numbers that high, it’s obviously going to be handy to know some tips for dealing with it. Seasickness does a damn good job of ruining fun, so any solutions are welcome.

According to those in the know at boatsafe.com, seasickness usually affects victims in a progressive way. They’ll start out feeling queasy and with a headache. This will lead to things like dizziness and increased saliva production. Next nausea sets in and then finally things like rapid breathing and vomiting.

“The sooner you can get a handle on it the better. The good news is that you can avoid seasickness and reduce nausea”, says Ian Fortey in an article dedicated to this mal de mer. It is typically best, he says, to try to prevent motion sickness instead of treating it after it happens. Not every seasickness remedy will work for every person, so there may be a need to try a few.

Here (in the synopsis) is what he suggests: (For more detailed information on the ideas below see this boat safe page.)

•  There are medications that can be taken. Talk to your pharmacist about an appropriate antihistamine drug available that combats nausea, in particular the effects of motion sickness. Taking a pill about 30 minutes before getting on the water may help prevent those sick feelings. Note: only antihistamines that cause drowsiness work. If you buy a non-drowsy formula, it will have no effect, Ian says. Or, talk to your doctor about options such as a transdermal patch (adults only) form that adheres to the skin
•  If you’re not interested in medication, there are other steps you can take. Be aware of what you’re eating. Try not to eat or drink too soon before heading out on the water. Also limit things like excessive alcohol, heavy, fatty foods, or spicy food. Eating crackers before you feel sick to keep your stomach calm may also work. Try ginger ale as ginger is one of the best natural remedies, and give chamomile tea a go - to soothe your stomach. Did you know that some odours will make seasickness worse while some may help? Peppermint oil has been known to have a calming effect. Definitely stay hydrated as dehydration makes seasickness worse
• The more you can see moving, the worse you will feel - keep your eyes focused on something stable (and don’t read). The distant horizon or dry land is a good focal point because even on the roughest seas it’s going to look stable and even. Face the direction the boat is travelling to help limit seasickness
• Another idea is positioning yourself differently. Stand up for a while and see how you feel. If that doesn’t work, try to lie down. Sitting is best for some. Usually, there will be at least one position that makes you feel better
• There are also wristbands you can buy that work by way of pressure points.

All the above preventative advice is well worth heeding, as prevention is worth "999 times more than any treatment," according to an NZ Herald article, which offers plenty of advice and totally rates ginger, by the way. This is the article to read if you also wish to know what causes seasickness and what age groups and which gender is most susceptible to seasickness.

The Sea-Legs website has a page dedicated to “What happens when the Barf Brigade is on your boat?”

We would expect this crew to know - as “Sea-Legs” is a well-known name among potential seasickness cures. Available at all leading pharmacies, Sea-Legs is one of those aforementioned valuable antihistamines. It helps block the middle ear’s ability to send signals to the ‘vomiting centre’ in the brain. Taken at least an hour before departing, Sea-Legs is expected to keep working for up to 24 hours.

The Sea-Legs team also suggests positioning sufferers in the middle of the boat where there’s less degree of movement. Lying down and sleeping can also help. Moving them away from anyone else who is sick is also a good idea as “seasickness can be psychosomatic so if they see anyone else barfing into the deep blue, they could be next.” Keep sufferers cool too (during seasickness the body wants to cool down so make sure they get fresh air from a window or air-conditioning) and advise them to focus on the horizon.

Many boating-focused websites dedicate wisdom to the topic of seasickness. Check out 10 tips on this modern sailing website, for example. There’s also some children-specific advice on the Kidspot website, which focuses on motion sickness in general - but with information relevant to boating too.

Did you know seasickness is rare in children younger than two years; women often experience motion sickness (particularly when they have their period or during pregnancy), and people who often get migraines may also be more likely to experience motion sickness and to have a migraine at the same time. Check out this health navigator website for more information.

Here’s hoping some of the strategies offered in this article will help prevent or minimise the symptoms of seasickness.