Seasickness on a Sailing Trip

Seasickness is a form of motion sickness. Your inner ear senses the yacht rising, falling and rolling, while your eyes, especially below deck, tell your brain that the room around you is still. That conflict can bring on yawning, a cold sweat, headache, tiredness and nausea.

Some people are more sensitive than others, and the same person can feel fine one day and queasy the next. Tiredness, a heavy meal, diesel fumes and reading all make it more likely.

The good news for a Croatian sailing week is that much of the sailing happens in the channels between the Dalmatian islands, where the sea is often calmer than on open water. Wind and swell still vary, so read about the Croatian winds if you want to know what can stir things up.

Prevention starts the day before you step aboard.

• Sleep well. Arriving exhausted after an early flight or a late night raises the odds.
• Drink water. Start the trip well hydrated and keep sipping through the day, especially in summer heat.
• Eat light. A plain breakfast is better than an empty stomach or a big fry-up.
• Go easy on alcohol. A hangover and a rolling deck are a poor combination.
• Plan any medicine early. If you know you are prone to motion sickness, talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you travel, since many remedies work best when taken before symptoms start.

Once you are under way, a few simple habits make a real difference.

• Look at the horizon. A fixed, distant point lets your eyes agree with your inner ear.
• Stay on deck in the fresh air. Cabins and the saloon are where most people start to feel unwell. Keep trips below short.
• Find the calmest spot. On a monohull, motion is gentlest low down and near the middle (midships). On a catamaran, the cockpit and the area near the middle of the boat usually feel steadiest. Our guide to catamarans and monohulls explains how the two move differently.
• Keep busy. Steering or helping with a line gives your brain something to focus on. Ask the skipper if you can take a turn.
• Keep nibbling and sipping. Small amounts of plain food and water are better than nothing.
• Stay cool and covered. Heat and sunburn make nausea worse, so use shade and a hat. See sun and heat at sea.

If you do feel sick, go to the leeward side (the side away from the wind) with someone nearby, and hold on. Never lean over the rail alone, and always follow your skipper's briefing on moving around the deck.

Several types of remedy are commonly used for motion sickness. Which one suits you, and how and when to take it, is a question for a pharmacist or doctor who knows your health and any other medicines you take.

• Antihistamine tablets. Some antihistamines are sold for travel sickness. Several can cause drowsiness, which matters if you plan to drink, swim or help sail.
• Patches. Skin patches for motion sickness exist in some countries, often on prescription. They are not suitable for everyone.
• Ginger. Many sailors swear by ginger biscuits, sweets or tea. Evidence is mixed, but it is gentle and easy to carry.
• Acupressure wristbands. Some people find them helpful.

Read the leaflet with any medicine, check whether it interacts with alcohol, and pack it in your hand luggage so you have it on day one. Children, pregnant travellers and anyone with a medical condition should take advice before using any remedy.

Tell them early if you feel unwell, since they have more options when they know in good time.

Depending on conditions and the plan for the day, a skipper may be able to:

• choose a more sheltered course or a shorter passage
• adjust departure time to avoid the windiest part of the day
• change the point of sail or engine use to soften the motion
• give you the helm or a job to focus on
• stop at a calm anchorage for a swim and a break

The skipper's decisions about routes and timing are based on weather and safety, so there will be days when the plan cannot change. Read more about what the skipper does.

Ordinary seasickness passes once you are back on land or your body adapts. Tell your skipper straight away if you cannot keep any fluids down for a long period, feel faint or confused, or have symptoms that seem out of proportion to the motion. Dehydration in summer heat can become serious. Pharmacies (ljekarna) are found in towns and on the larger islands, and your skipper can help you reach medical care if needed.