What are your experiences of sailing single handed whilst being sea sick

Zagato

Zagato

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 Sep 2010
Messages
2,813
Location
Chichester Harbour
Visit site
Just interested hearing from others with similar experiences... Just how bad can it get?

I would love to sail around the IofW and along the South Coast but just get to crook to do it. It's just to dangerous. So far I usually just throw up whilst still sailing and manage to dive into a port before I get too bad. Anyone else in a similar position. I sold my Crabber 24 and now have a trailerable Drascombe Coaster for estuary/river trips and short coastal hops which suits me fine BUT I would love to get over to France etc one day!


This isn,t a thread for sea sick remedies, been done to death!
 
Last edited:
I am very lucky not to suffer actual sea - sickness, but do get recurring ' CVS', Cyclic Vomitting Syndrome, linked to anxiety whether I feel anxious or not, about every 10 days or instantly if stressed.

I have tried just about every medication going to no effect, but a couple of soluble Solpadeine tablets with a small glass of water seems to help; nb any water helps the dehyrdration caused by sickness, so Dioralyte sachets ( about £4.50 for 4 from chemists ) are also a good idea.
 
I would say that attempting anything more than a short coast hop knowing that everyone on the boat (which may be just you) is vulnerable to seasickness to a disabling extent would be very unwise.

It takes some very bad conditions to make me seasick, and I try to actively avoid any conditions that are close to bad enough. I think you can harden up with repeated exposure that pushes your tolerance up. It's not so much a question of no longer feeling sick as it is a case of being able to carry on functioning. I sailed on a few occasions with a woman who appeared to be immune but on a few occasions we were in some very heavy seas - to the point where I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. I was working with her changing a sail and realised that every few minutes she was turning away and throwing up over the side - but then turning back and carrying on as if nothing had happened.
 
Zagato said:
Just interested hearing from others with similar experiences... Just how bad can it get?

I would love to sail around the IofW and along the South Coast but just get to crook to do it. It's just to dangerous. So far I usually just throw up whilst still sailing and manage to dive into a port before I get too bad. Anyone else in a similar position. I sold my Crabber 24 and now have a trailerable Drascombe Coaster for estuary/river trips and short coastal hops which suits me fine BUT I would love to get over to France etc one day!


This isn,t a thread for sea sick remedies, been done to death!
Click to expand...


Do you feel stressed or nervous when you do go sailing? As this seems to precipitate the problem in some people, but usually reduces as you gain in confidence.

If you are not confident then perhaps going out with someone who is will help you to overcome the problem.
 
I have been stressed in the past with a new boat or new sailing experience but am now a bit more experienced and comfortable which is probably why I don,t suffer so badly anymore but a few rollers around the Gosport entrance can bring it on when not stressed.

I remember just holding on coming back from Poole towards the Needles on an uncomfortable rolling run in the Crabber staring straight ahead, gripping onto the tiller tightly and just kind of panting breath to stave off the dreaded sickness and luckily I kept it together just feeling queezy but thought how bad it could have been if I did go down with the lurgy.
That was a long exhausting haul whilst others on the same leg, tanked along coffee in hand and ready for a few beers and nosh up in the evening. I lost half a stone in 5 days. Must do it again sometime as the belt if feeling a tad tight!
 
Have you tried heaving to (no pun intended!) to see if that helps. If it does, maybe knowing you have that option would reduce the stress, thereby reducing the likelihood. Or try altering course a bit to increase comfort (risky strategy that could make things worse in the long run though)? I'm normally ok but occasionally suffer when I'm not really expecting it & it can come on very quickly & be quite debilitating as well, maybe with a motion associated with a particular point of sail in certain conditions, I don't know. The last long sail I did was Exmouth to Brighton, 26 hours two up sometimes fairly uncomfortable conditions. I did take those tablets that are supposed to help (forgotten the name of them now) & was fine...
 
I am fortunate male de mer is not usually a problem. Off shore a swell, no wind, boat wallowing will turn me green. underway and making way I will feel better
I do single hand from time to time even over night but not long enough to require a kip.
I wouldn't be comfortable heading out to single hand if I thought I would be suffering.
I probably wouldn't be going sailing if I thought I'd be suffering:)
 
Last edited:
Yes crashing through waves close hauled is no problem and great fun, wallowing or rolling not so good... I have changed direction many times to avoid this...

Suddenly you say is the word. It can come on so quickly in a matter of a few minutes especially if messing about with sails having left the tiller or leaning over trying to sort out a mooring buoy or anchor.

I would dread to crew or have crew on board which is why I have declined many offers. On the tiller is the best place to be to feel ok and to save the embarrassment of throwing up in front of someone but maybe to have someone on board to do all the deck stuff would be a good idea after all.

Who wants a trip out in a Drascombe in your oilies even if it's fine weather you may get sprayed anyway!! Joking.
 
Last edited:
Why not turn the problem into a different opportunity. Now you have the Drascombe it is easily towable.

A quick hop across on a ferry and somewhere like the Gulf de Morbihan would be a fantastic flat water place to cruise a Drascombe (been there, done that in the days you could hire a Drascombe there). By watching the weather a trip out to the islands of Houat, Hoedic or Belle Isle should also be feasible.
The Clyde is another great cruising ground which doesn't suffer from swell, and loads of sheltered anchorages.

So just a thought - change the location and use car / trailer to do the long legs
 
It's a mental thing,I tried hypnotherapy for my CVS and it was no use whatsoever.

I don't get seasick in boats but do get very sick in high performance aircraft, people say it's the same thing; well I'm here to say it bloody well isn't !
 
dunedin said:
Why not turn the problem into a different opportunity. Now you have the Drascombe it is easily towable.

A quick hop across on a ferry and somewhere like the Gulf de Morbihan would be a fantastic flat water place to cruise a Drascombe (been there, done that in the days you could hire a Drascombe there). By watching the weather a trip out to the islands of Houat, Hoedic or Belle Isle should also be feasible.
The Clyde is another great cruising ground which doesn't suffer from swell, and loads of sheltered anchorages.

So just a thought - change the location and use car / trailer to do the long legs
Click to expand...

Yes the ability to trail to the Broads, Falmouth, Coniston, Scotland and even the Thames was one of my reasons in returning to a Drascombe. The kids and wife are also not great sailers getting queasy quickly so we just go out in the estuary and throw the fishing lines over board. we never catch anything but it keeps them occupied for a good hour until the sandwiches come out;)
 
maby said:
I would say that attempting anything more than a short coast hop knowing that everyone on the boat (which may be just you) is vulnerable to seasickness to a disabling extent would be very unwise.

It takes some very bad conditions to make me seasick, and I try to actively avoid any conditions that are close to bad enough. I think you can harden up with repeated exposure that pushes your tolerance up. It's not so much a question of no longer feeling sick as it is a case of being able to carry on functioning. I sailed on a few occasions with a woman who appeared to be immune but on a few occasions we were in some very heavy seas - to the point where I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. I was working with her changing a sail and realised that every few minutes she was turning away and throwing up over the side - but then turning back and carrying on as if nothing had happened.
Click to expand...

I was heading across the Irish Sea out near bouy M2 and conditions picked up markedly. Tried to put a reef in and it took me awhile to realise I'd put the second crinkle on the Rams horn. By the time I'd sorted it out things had got a big livelier and I had to reef again putting in reef 3. After this I was feeding the fish the contents of my lunch. I had little choice but to carry on. As I got into the lee of Howth head the boat had slowed so much I had to let the reefs out and had a lovely sail into dublin port.

I thought I was at my physical limit but a clearly was no where near it

Lesson learned? Being sea sick is not a reason to give up. Ignore it and carry on regardless
 
What have you tried for seasickness prevention? These little beauts work for me, and though availability has been all over the place for 25 years, they are currently on pharmacists' shelves. Prescription at the moment, but I have never had trouble finding a sympathetic GP.

Scopoderm+-+Box.jpg
 
JumbleDuck said:
What have you tried for seasickness prevention? These little beauts work for me, and though availability has been all over the place for 25 years, they are currently on pharmacists' shelves. Prescription at the moment, but I have never had trouble finding a sympathetic GP.

Scopoderm+-+Box.jpg
Click to expand...

I think the OP did want to avoid recommendations for medications, but I have to agree that Scopoderm is amazing stuff. My wife has always been very vulnerable to seasickness - which has been a serious handicap since she loves sailing. She recently tried Scopoderm and the effects are unbelievable. A few weeks ago we had to move the boat in the tail end of a force 8 - I don't think I've ever seen it bucking so much - and she was down in the galley preparing food!

Not everyone can take it - some find it hallucinogenic - you need to try a patch on a day when you can afford to feel seriously disoriented and just giggle at the pink sparrows playing bass guitar! But if it works for you, then it is the answer to a prayer.
 
maby said:
I think the OP did want to avoid recommendations for medications, but I have to agree that Scopoderm is amazing stuff.
Click to expand...

My mum's another Scop patch convert. She's always suffered badly from seasickness, and insisted that no drugs worked for her. Then my uncle introduced her to Scop patches for skiing (white-out conditions can also bring on seasickness by hiding the horizon) and she's finally started using them on the boat. She crossed from Alderney to Weymouth last year with a moderate sea on the quarter giving that corkscrew motion, and although she didn't want to risk going below she was quite comfortable in the cockpit which would absolutely never have happened before.

I've also seen Buccastem (prochlorperazine) work miracles for people on a square rigger, which was fortunate as we had just departed the Azores for a non-stop passage to Cherbourg taking a couple of weeks :)

The day to day choice on Ariam is Stugeron; I have a friend who often takes one at the beginning of a week's cruise until he acclimatises, and I will occasionally take a dose just in case if I'm expecting a rough passage.

We ran out of Stugeron once before a rolly crossing back from St Vaast, so my two friends used the pills from the MCA official first-aid kit. Won't be using those again if we can help it - I had to stand watch the whole way as they were effectively sedated! No seasickness, but they just couldn't stay awake.

Pete
 
"Ignore it and carry on regardless" this is what I wanted to hear, just wondered how bad people can get and can you still manage to sail, Francis Chichester seemed to so I will persevere and hopefully a few good sails will make up for the misjudged nightmare one!

Good to hear you can suffer from the sea sickness as well Pete... Er if you know what I mean. Sturgeon is the stuff I use but it makes me feel so crap and knocked out. I will try and get hold of some Scop patches and try them at home first - thanks all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top