Here’s the series . . . .
And the intention of this post is to prompt a discussion, not just be vain. Let me explain: thanks to HL for taking this photo the other day during a 33-hour delivery of a Nautor Swan 42 from NY to Baltimore. Off NJ, conditions were described as a confused sea.
The reason for the photo and this post is to ask about seasickness, which I’ve never experienced but this time I did. I lost breakfast as soon as we departed the Ambrose Channel and set sail. I’d taken dramamine, but it only made me drowsy. Ironically, between gags, I felt very happy; stomach sick but spirits good. It hurt to talk much but smiles soothed. And when I was told to steer a course, all was better.
Here’s a set of 50 suggestions for dealing with seasickness I found on gCaptain. A dear friend wrote that there are two kinds of people: those who get seasick and those who haven’t YET. My brother traveled to Vietnam by ship, said he was seasick for weeks, and has scorned water travel every since. I used to pack a ginger root when I went fishing and keep a slice between my teeth and inner cheek.
Thanks to HL for sharing the photo.
You might enjoy this article on the subject from the Atlantic.
tugster: a waterblog 
6 comments
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September 25, 2015 at 2:30 pm
JS
Don’t go out there in anything less than 10,000 tons.
September 25, 2015 at 3:25 pm
WS
The charter fishing boat we used to go out on became more, and more unstable as the captain, NOT a naval architect, kept modifying his craft.
The last trip out, most everyone was sick, it finally capsized:
resulting in the loss of 8 souls.
September 25, 2015 at 5:08 pm
mageb
My husband becomes very seasick. He uses wrists bands and the new patch.
September 26, 2015 at 1:58 am
Jane schmidt
Those seas are more than confused, they’ve really addled. Dont go below ever. Best to be helmsman. If you cant use land as an eye reference, at least sail trim should keep your eyes and mind on the right track. Avoid following seas at all costs. If you’re motoring, god help you.jmschmidt10@hotmail.com j
September 27, 2015 at 8:16 am
Harry T Scholer
My first ship was a Navy destroyer and we sailed into the north Atlantic. I got sick as a dog and could barely stand watches. Took to the rack at every opportunity for three days. Finally this old chief came down to the compartment and asked how much time i had left? When I said 3+ years he said are you going to spend it all here in your bunk? Now get topside and have a good breakfast. I did, powdered eggs and all and never got sea sick again. until I rode a tug towing a barge from Texas to PONY.That is another story. Eat saltines:)
September 27, 2015 at 9:11 am
tugster
Let me summarize comments in conversation, email, and on FB: An experienced tall ship sailor says he gets seasick about 30% of the time he goes offshore. Once while sharing the wheel with another helmsman on a passage to Bermuda after a series of hurricanes, the two of them also shared trips to the rail to hurl.
Another experienced offshore person wrote this: “To raise a wreck, I had hired a triple screw 105′ aluminum crew boat as a platform, and between the fried chicken feet snack bowl and the warm diesel smells bobbing at anchor for 3 days, I was miserable…but Bonine (http://www.livestrong.com/article/72233-bonine-vs-non-drowsy-dramamine/) did the trick and I was able to run the show and make a pile $$ in the end.
Coming out into the Gulf of Alaska after passing Bligh Reef in 60′ seas rolling 30D on a 980′ tanker will do it too. Projectile style, jeez. Got over that too. Never found any cure better than steering the boat, so I’m with you there.” Others concurred with the steering solution.
Other treatments were an all natural pill called “Hylands motion sickness” and scopolamine patches.
I’m wondering if anyone knows non-Western POV on seasickness and overcoming it. Polynesian? Asian? Other?