Sea sickness (also referred to as car sickness and motion sickness) is a common complaint and relates to an inner ear disturbance resulting from repeated movement.
Symptoms relating to this condition include an unwell feeling, sweating, dizziness, vomiting, and nausea. Most of the symptoms are caused by a noticeable change in the equilibrium and balance in the inner ear.
Here are 9 tips that can help to minimize the effects of motion sickness:
1 – Acidic, heavy, or greasy foods
Before setting sail avoid eating foods that are quite high in relation to acidic, heavy, or greasy. Instead, eat a light meal about 60 minutes before departure to give the stomach something to consume. Be cautious of salad dressings or similar as they are usually high in acidic content. An early morning meal can consist of porridge or cereals. Plus, an ingredient like ginger is appreciated for its ability to ward off sea sickness and is available in several forms, such as cookies and biscuits.
2 – Alcohol
It is best to avoid drinking too excess the night before going out on the sailboat. Wait until fully accustomed to life on the water before indulging in acidic, caffeinated or alcohol drinks.
3 – Caffeinated drinks
Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks for at least 24-hours or more before planning to go out on a sailing adventure. Caffeine has the potential to increase the risk of suffering from a headache, and this isn’t likely to benefit those that start to feel seasick once on the open waters.
4 – Exhaust fumes
Avoid sitting in any area of the boat that will put you within close proximity to the exhaust or diesel fumes. Plus, for those on a small Cuddy cabin or motor cruiser, it helps to avoid leaving the engine on when static for a significant period. Engine fumes often return to the boat and can make it quite unpleasant for the passengers or crew on board.
5 – Hypnotism
A hypnotism session might be the best cause of action for those that have severe difficulties with motion sickness. A scheduled session of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) has the potential to minimize issues related to this condition. Most of these techniques have special instructions for those that are likely to experience sea sickness on a vessel.
6 – Line of sight
Once the boat is underway, try to avoid using cameras or binoculars, or reading for a prolonged period of time. It can help to have the horizon in sight, but make sure to avoid staring or concentrating on it. Plus, don’t be tempted to stare at things that are normally solid and stable like furniture or walls as this can confuse the brain.
7 – Prepare equipment
When getting prepared for a sailing or fishing trip it can benefit to get all supplies set up and ready before leaving port. Sort the supplies on board or on shore, which should help to significantly reduce the time spent below deck while the boat is in motion. Even moving around a boat when stationary can lead to issues with sea sickness, so make sure to do whatever is possible to minimize the time spent loading supplies on a boat. It might help at the start to avoid going below until you are more used to the motion of the boat and less likely to feel sick.
8 – Sleep
Getting a full and relaxing night’s sleep the evening before venturing out on the water is certain to benefit. Even though there might be some anxiety about going out on a boat, it helps to get in a good 7-8 hours of sleep. A good night’s sleep means you are more likely to be relaxed and ready for setting off in the boat and not dreading the planned trip.
9 – Stay hydrated
Sit in an area of the boat that makes it possible to get plenty of shade and fresh air. Try to avoid getting too hot and have a bottle of water or similar close to hand to avoid issues with dehydration. On a longer excursion, make sure to eat food to avoid getting hungry. Light snacks are the best option to avoid feeling sea sick.