Only the luckiest amongst us will be unfamiliar with seasickness. The three- dimensional freedom of a boat’s movement, as compared with the motion of land-bound vehicles, make this one of the worst forms of motion sickness, compounded by the sufferer’s knowledge that there is no escape when at sea and the misery is likely to last for some long time.
‘Mal de mer’, meaning seasickness, is French, of course, and came into the English language in the 18th century. John Adams referred to it in his Diary, in February 1778:
“The mal de mer seems to be merely the effect of agitation.”
Mal de mer, however, is not caused by choppy waters alone. Scientific studies have shown that some folks become seasick by suggestion. They simply convince themselves that being on a ship will make them ill. On the other hand, for those who can forget about it, it’s often smooth sailing.
What is the definition of misery? Answer: Seasickness
The single worst aspect of sea-sickness is not being able to stop it. Seasickness is never a major problem as it’s usually only a short trip to the nearest harbor but, in the middle of the ocean, your only option is to wait until the seas calm down. This can take days.
In What is Seasickness by John Konrad, the author gives you fifty tips on ways to prevent it.
Some of these are scientifically tested, others are sailor’s tales, and none of them have been tested by gCaptain editors because none of us are strong-willed enough to pick a profession which makes us sick! So, results may vary, but all of these have been suggested by a professional mariner though we can’t vouch for his/her sanity.
The number one tip that stood out was “Don’t drink liquor excessively the night before departing”. Define excessively?