Family?

[pateco]

I have a sister, who gets violently seasick, but invites herself along on sailing trips when other siblings are in town. We tried to do a sunset sail with my younger sister who was visiting for the weekend last night. I warned her of the consequences when my "seasick" sister asked to tag along with her 8 year old son, but I didn't have the heart to say no.

We had about 15-20 kts wind, and 2'-3' rolling seas with no whitecaps. Boat was sailing well with main and 110 jib with just a little weather helm. We were heeling pretty good, but no water over the rails, and the autopilot could keep us on course. I was getting ready to break out dinner and boat drinks, when "seasick" and son ask when we are turning back. It is still over an hour until sunset, so I took a reef and ask if this is better for them. Nope. After taking the second reef and still getting complaints of the boat heeling too much, we turned back after just 20 minutes sailing. That was when things went all to hell.

The trip ended badly to say the least. What could have been an enjoyable sunset sail turned into a a complete cluster, and I have to go hose the cockpit down for a second time in daylight today.

How do you say NO! to known bad sailors when they are family? After last night, she may not ask again, but I love her and my nephew, and would still have difficulty saying NO!

 

[SFS]

Can't help you with the family dynamics, Chip, but since she KNOWS she's at risk, has she tried any meds? Taken an hour before hand, many things are effective.

 

[pateco]

Can't help you with the family dynamics, Chip, but since she KNOWS she's at risk, has she tried any meds? Taken an hour before hand, many things are effective.

Her and son took Dramamine before they got aboard, then we had almost an hour on smooth ICW before we hit the ocean and raised sails. Should have been plenty of time for it to kick in. She gets motion sickness riding in cars so I don't know what else would help.

 

[JRacer]

My wife experienced seasickness the first time we went to the islands, one of the other people on the trip had some of the patches which she used and that cleared it up. Since then, as a precaution, she always take a prescription of them with her and applies them before we head out. Never had another occurrence. Just a thought.

 

[Calif. Ted]

My wife once accused me of keeping a "Seasick Relative" logbook and making people sick "On Purpose". Eventually they don't ask to go anymore but until then keep a large bright color (red or yellow) plastic bucket handy. Whenever I see someone put a patch behind their ear they get their own bucket.

 

[SFS]

Man, motion sick in cars is a tough way to live life. If she wants to continue to try boating, I would suggest she try other meds. Dramamine doesn't help me, but meclizine (Bonine) does. (Note that it is MUCH cheaper to buy from the pharmacist in a 100-tablet bottle, no prescription needed. You can get 100 doses for about the same price as 4 or 6 doses buying the name brand.) There are prescriptions available too, but the patches are horrifically expensive, and insurance often does not cover it. Lots of threads on seasickness on the internet, so she could do some research (again, if she wants to continue).

Back to your dilemma about saying no. A frank, rational adult conversation would be your best bet. Explain that you hate to see her miserable, that the results of her being sick can push other folks over the edge into a similar condition, and you don't enjoy cleaning up the boat afterwards. Beyond that, you could work the angle that as captain, you are legally responsible for the safety of the crew. Vomit on the decks is a slip hazard. Finally, you could invoke captains perogative: you clean up your own mess, whether it's seasickness, or clogging a head.

 

[pateco]

Man, motion sick in cars is a tough way to live life. If she wants to continue to try boating, I would suggest she try other meds. Dramamine doesn't help me, but meclizine (Bonine) does. (Note that it is MUCH cheaper to buy from the pharmacist in a 100-tablet bottle, no prescription needed. You can get 100 doses for about the same price as 4 or 6 doses buying the name brand.)

She of course did not bring her own meds, so I had to give them the last of the Dramamine I had aboard. Now I am going to restock the med kit. I haven't been seasick in years, and have never tried Bonine, What are the side effects.

 

[SFS]

I'm not a doctor, so this is just personal observation. I'm unaware of any negative side effects, but you could check online, and it's best that she take a dose on land on a non-boating day to see if SHE has any side effects (this is a good idea for any seasick med).

Here is why I like it: a) I can take it AFTER I'm already feeling bad, and it still helps (though I'm pretty good at remembering to take it 30 minutes before I get on the boat); b) it doesn't make me sleepy, which is good, since I'm the captain. I don't take it everytime I go out. I just take it on heavy weather days, which for me is on dive trips or deliveries, when I don't have the option of not going out.

There are other options that are not drugs: acupressure (through wrist bands), ginger of almost any description (raw, capsules, powder, candies, chews). Different things work for different people.

 

[Gunni]

Yes absolutely, you dose with meds 12 hours before sailing. If I have a questionable guest they get the choice, take the meds the night before or be prepared to take the consequences. BTW, you just keep pouring water into them, add some salt and sugar if it goes on, have them lay down with a bucket. It will not kill them but I guarantee you the next time Seasick will take her meds.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

My dock mate is a physician. His opinion is that OTC seasick remedies can be ineffective on some people. The reasons are not worth reiterating but essentially there are a few causes of motion sickness, however, some meds only affect a limited trigger cause.

My way of dealing with these folks is to tell them we aren't turning back when they get sick giving them the responsibility for their choice to go accepting the consequence

 

[Kermit]

Here's how I would answer. "No, you may not go with me." If she asks why just remind her of the last time.

 

[Ned Ludd]

+1 for Kermit's advice.

My wife enjoys 8 knot pleasure cruises but not the rail down dishes skidding across the counter top sailing I do. Whenever we are heading out we have a discussion about the weather conditions and look at a weather app for wind predictions. When it is above her comfort zone she says "Have a nice time, when will you be home." With that in mind maybe you could take an ICW cruise with her & your nephew.

 

[Gunni]

I was getting ready to do a long offshore delivery. The owner/skipper demanded that we all use one of those Scopolamine patches, a prescription treatment. Having some experience with over-the-counter remedies that made me feel like a caffeinated monkey with an implanted heart electrode, I resisted. I read up on the Scopolamine fine print and found that side effects included psychosis and other terrible stuff. I considered just not taking anything because I don't advance to severe seasickness (just loss of appetite). But in the end the skipper made it clear that he needed me to be a useful crew member...so put the damn patch on. Yes sir. Anyway I felt no side effects, not even drowsy. It turned out to be completely unnoticeable.

I keep a bottle of Bonine onboard, provided by a pharmacist buddy over the counter and have never had any complaints about using it. Just works.

 

[pateco]

My wife enjoys 8 knot pleasure cruises but not the rail down dishes skidding across the counter top sailing I do.

I forgot to mention she left her purse on the dinette table and it ended up scattered all over the cabin sole.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I forgot to mention she left her purse on the dinette table and it ended up scattered all over the cabin sole.

The icing on the cake, maybe if the cell phone falls overboard that will end the allure

 

[Kermit]

I forgot to mention she left her purse on the dinette table and it ended up scattered all over the cabin sole.

Purse n puke. Yummy!

 

[pateco]

Purse n puke. Yummy!

Purse was below deck. Puke was on deck. Would have sucked if combined.

 

[Kermit]

Purse was below deck. Puke was on deck. Would have sucked if combined.

Would have kept her off your boat for awhile, too.

 

[31seahorse]

Consider a different approach: My wife's early seasick feelings were attributed to fear. Once she understood the boat's basic operation she has seldom felt poorly. A proactive plan would include taking your sister out on the boat to teach her some rudimentary sailing skills in very mild wind and weather. Have her at the helm with your close guidance. Generally, keep her occupied with lines and sail trim when she is not at the helm. These activities might not work the first time, but then make your sister handle the cleanup measures too. If the attempts never produce improvement your sister might realize the "fun" of sailing for her might be found in greeting you and your guests with drinks and snacks upon your return to the dock. Win - Win -Win!

 

[JRacer]

Purse was below deck. Puke was on deck. Would have sucked if combined.

Well, next time you could just hand her the purse instead of the bucket! Kind of like "take out".