We view our yacht as a fun floating exploration platform that we can navigate between sights below and above the water line.
We steer clear of extended passages and challenging conditions to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience, minimizing the risk of sea-sickness.
Raw, candied or brewed in a tea – there are a number of ways you can take this simple home remedy. The best bit is that it’s cheap, delicious and can easily be worked into your diet at sea. Ginger has been used to treat seasickness for centuries and is believed to have first been used by the ancient Chinese. Nobody knows exactly why ginger is so good at treating seasickness, but multiple studies around the world have found it can reduce or prevent it altogether. If you’re not in love with ginger, you can take ginger capsules instead.
It might seem surprisingly obvious, but fresh air does wonders for clearing your head. According to Captain Daddy, the higher on the boat you are, and the more exposed to fresh air, the less likely you are to feel the effects of seasickness. He recommends hanging out at the front of your boat (and enjoying the views), or asking to sit with the captain, usually one of the highest places on a yacht. Not only will it help keep you clear-headed, you can also learn how to sail a boat. Win/win.
This one really works best when you have a landmass or object to look at, but Captain Daddy suggests focusing on the horizon is a good tactic for managing seasickness. It sounds like an old wives’ remedy but scientists are totally onboard with it. Motion sickness is caused in part by conflicting sensory signals to your brain – your eyes are telling it everything is still (such as the inside of your cabin), while your inner ear balance mechanism (the vestibular system) says you’re moving. Looking at the horizon can help give your brain a point of reference, allowing it to sense the motion of the ship and your body’s movement with it.
Taking their cue from ancient practices such as acupuncture, sea bands (also sold as motion sickness bands) are elastic bracelets with a plastic stud attached to the inside of the band. This stud places pressure on an acupressure point that is believed to relieve nausea and vomiting. While the scientific jury is still out on whether sea bands are effective, Captain Daddy says some travellers swear by the trusty bracelets. Sea bands are relatively inexpensive and easy to find at many pharmacies.
Because sea nausea is caused by neural activity, there are a number of drugs available from your doctor that can help soothe the nerves in your inner ear or suppress the brain’s vomiting response. Typically these drugs come as a pill, which you should take before the symptoms of seasickness start to kick in. These pills can cause drowsiness as a side effect, so it’s a good idea to discuss which medication might be right for you with your doctor or pharmacist. If pills ain’t your thing, you can also get extended release patches (sold as scopolamine) that sit comfortably behind your ear.
Captain Daddy will have Bonine on board, as it tends to cause less drowsiness than other options—at least for him. Ideally, start taking Bonine the day before you board the yacht. If you need some during the trip, just ask Captain Daddy.
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