Seasickness and Onboard Precautions
The stomach’s response to the inner ear and the eyes disagreeing — the number one comfort issue on a guest yacht, and one that is largely manageable.
Seasickness is the nausea, dizziness and weakness that result from the conflict between the movement felt by the inner ear and the stillness seen by the eyes. It is the number one comfort issue on a guest yacht, and one that is largely manageable.
The golden rule of management is timing: take action before symptoms start; once the nausea has set in, the chance to act has gone.
Precautions
Early action: for those prone to it, medication should be taken hours before departure; plus light, dry snacks (crackers, bread) and water or ginger.
Look at the horizon: a guest who starts to feel unwell should not go below; they should sit in the open air, aft, and keep their eyes on the horizon.
Give them a task: taking the helm is one of the best remedies, as it allows the brain to ‘predict’ movement.
There is also a job for the skipper: route planning (to avoid taking heavy seas on the beam for long periods), speed (to reduce slamming) and keeping engine fumes out of the cockpit are half the environmental treatment. If someone feels ill, it is open air, horizon, water, shade and no embarrassment; seasickness is a matter of physiology, not willpower.