Sea Sick

[Bad Obsession]

Good tips.

I learned about the power of ginger this year. It seems to work. I like the idea of candied ginger root if I can find that. She hasn't taken any of the meds yet but she is also learning how to deal with it. So far she has felt a little bit of it while out in a strong sea and she will fight it for a while and get better. She will drink water and I started carrying the ginger snaps aboard and it is working okay so far.

My thoughts is that the more solutions I know the better off I will be. If I am able to get her through this then it will make it a lot easier on her and she will enjoy it more. So far she loves the destinations and she is starting to see what a nice sail is about. She doesn't mind the engine when I have to run it but she really doesn't like heavier weather. I haven't had her out in the bad bad stuff yet and I generally try to avoid it, but it does happen. I am hoping that she will learn to deal with the medium stuff so she will be great most of the time.

 

[Stu Jackson]

She already is great --- she's with you!

Just take it a step at a time, she's got the right attitude.

And, she has to do it, you can only make the options available to her.

You're heading in the right direction.

 

[bffatcat]

sea sickness

I used to get sea sick when I first started sailing about 50 years ago. I tried all kinds of remidies including chemicals, sugar crackers etc: nothing worked. What worked was I finally got my sea legs and got used to the motion. Most people get used to the motion, but some dont. for those that cant get used to the motion its probably time to stay on land

 

[Gail R]

We don't leave home without Bonine, ginger pills, ginger snaps, and ginger ale on board. I hardly ever get even a little queasy, but if we're going to be out in a thick fog and long swell, I might take a Bonine as a preventative; it works well without making you drowsy like Dramamine does. Never had to touch the ginger pills. We munch on ginger snaps (we prefer Archway "snacking cookies") because we like them, but they also help keep mild queasiness at bay.

The ginger is indeed good for any kind of stomach ailment, including a hangover. I remember hanging out overnight in one spot with some friends. One of them drank more wine than she should have, and the poor thing was sick as a dog the next morning. I suspect the rollyness of the anchorage probably didn't help (for any Mainiacs here, I'm talking Sebasco).

We put a bunch of ginger snaps in a quart ziploc baggie (something else we always have on board), tossed the cookies (pun intended) to her fiance with the suggestion that she give them a try. Not 10 minutes later, he reappeared in the cockpit and declared "The ginger snaps were a success!!"

Haven't seen it mentioned here yet but some people I know swear by Stugeron -- its a prescription(?) med that is not available in the US but maybe you can get it in Canader?

Seasickness is indeed a very individual thing, and I swear a good bit of it is up here (pointing to my head). For a lot of people, confidence and attitude play a HUGE role in keeping it at bay. For me, staying on deck and avoiding exhaust fumes if the engine is running are key.

 

[bgoodrich609]

I learned from a fishing boat captain to use foam earplugs for sea sickness. I have given them to many and they have always worked. A friend of mine said she only uses one and that works on both sea sickness and car sickness. Give it a try, it seems to work.

 

[LuzSD]

Is it just me or does the idea of eating candied ginger (or candied anything) with a queasy stomach sound impossible. After reading all the posts I guess I am so grateful that I don't have this problem any longer. Again, I do believe for many of us, it is a matter of wanting (or needing) to sail, putting in the hours that it takes to acquire sea legs and then staying busy and focused on sailing. And I agree about the idea of never asking the dreaded question: Are you feeling sick? NEVER ask that.

 

[Hermit Scott]

My wife always got sick on day sails, until we started sleeping on the boat the night before we departed. We try not to sail the day we get to the boat now. The problem now is the slip I am in now is very protected and hardly moves at all during the night unless it's really howling. So the motion during the first nights sleep isn't there that much anymore.

 

[AXEL]

I've been sailing for over 25 years. I'm ok in the bays but when I go off shore I will get sea sick. Bonine works very well but after a couple of days of taking them I can't tell the difference if I'm dreaming or awake. These days I swear by the electric braclet. It is expensive but it works!. It will take the place of 2 Bonines. I highly recommend it.

 

[Bill1565]

"My Fiancee is doing well with sailing but in some conditions she gets a little sea sick. She hasn't gotten fully sick but she felt uneasy. I try to keep the boat on its best course to prevent this and I take her needs into account".

Let her drive. It will take her mind off the queasyness and it will get her involved in the doing of sailing.

 

[zeehag]

ginger makes an excellent tea, which is most drinkable, even if someone should suffer the queasiness......there are many situations under which queasy stomachs should be fed, not starved-----gooood luck and may you have smooth sailing....

 

[Stu Jackson]

My wife always got sick on day sails, until we started sleeping on the boat the night before we departed. We try not to sail the day we get to the boat now. The problem now is the slip I am in now is very protected and hardly moves at all during the night unless it's really howling. So the motion during the first nights sleep isn't there that much anymore.

Interestingly enough, a mega million dollar study by the Navy and/or Coast Guard has suggested just this approach. I sure wish hermit was running the country!

 

[tomgrigsby]

I suffered Mal de Mer for the entire 24 years I was in the Navy and still have bouts. Sailboats are far better than power boats because the roll motion is relatively small and pitching usually isn't extreme. Heaving gives me grief (excuse the pun). I can't go near an open ocean fishing boat ever.
I've found that a full tummy is a happy tummy. The squadron's flight surgeon gave me Phenergan (they give it to pregnant women for morning sickness) which worked really well. By the time I went toes up, everyone else was sick too. Dramamine made me too sleepy to work. The Scopalamine patch tore me up. (So sick I lost 12 lbs in 10 days and was dizzy for 3 days after I got ashore). I also carried a pocket full of Jolly Ranchers (not the sugar free ones). They really helped stablize me when I was just a touch queasy driving the ship on the mid-watch. Don't let her go below at all except to sleep or for very brief periods when the boat is heaving or pitching if you can avoid it. For me, once I'm sick I'm hard down. Keep her away from the bow and as close to centerline as you can.

 

[druid]

We've tried them all and here's what works - BONINE. No prescription required and available just about anywhere in the U.S. Take one hour prior to sailing and there are no side effects.
We live in Canada and do a lot of sailing in the Pacific Northwest. Bonine is not available here so every time we cross to the U.S. we stock up.

In Canada it's Gravol all the way!

I've never been seasick, but many of my crew have over the years. Most "other" remedies (sea band, ginger...) work marginally, sometimes... but if Gravol is taken BEFORE the sickness starts, it's pretty reliable.

Once you're sick, there's not much to help. Stay away from things that normally make you nauseous: smell of stale beer, diesel fumes, Celine Dion... Being outside, looking at the horizon normally helps, although sometimes if you can go below and get to sleep that's the best.

druid

 

[Grateful]

I think everyone is right here, the mind is a powerful thing, but if any of you have ever been in hospita, "nil by mouth" for long enough you will usually have a Naso Gastric tube placed this is to remove the bile from your belly and thus stop the nausea. If you think that through you can see that removing the bile from the equation you will feel so much better. How to do this, think dry bread or maybe biscuits, that is why greasy food and sugary drinks can be so dangerous. of course avoiding the feeling in the first place is always best, stay ashore or at least take a pill, before you go, no shame in that :>

 

[jibes138]

Only once

It was a dark and stormy night. Running downwind surfing 12 footers, clipped on to a jack line and going to drop the main and just run under a partially furled headsail. Felt fine. As soon as i got to the mast it hit me, something about the lack of light and the motion, no way to orient myself visually to the motion i guess. The rest of the trip was completely fine. Hit 12 knots on the GPS for almost 2 days with every wave.
I was wondering about rum? I never drink while at sea but was wondering about guests. Seems like all the old sailors would get their daily ration of grog. There is a new drink from France made out of ginger, it is about 40 proof, makes some pretty good drinks.

 

[Jack4865]

I'm surprised that the absolute best solution hasn't been mentioned yet. Here it is...

Sit under an oak tree.

Jack (smile)

 

[jibes138]

Would Ginger Brandy Work??

I had a friend when I was young who was an alcoholic. He guzzled hundred proof Allen's ginger brandy like it was water. Terrible stuff but had the ginger flavor. Wonder if it would work??