Sailing around the Canary Islands promises an array of wind and sea state conditions. From calm seas and a light breeze on the protected leeward site of the islands, violent wind acceleration with short, steep breaking waves in-between the islands, to large rolling swell once you meet the open ocean.
While the wild beauty of these nature surrounding is an awe-inspiring experience it can also leads to seasickness. Seasickness occurs when the balance mechanism in your inner ear detects a different motion than what your eyes perceive. Agitated by this perceptual incongruity, the brain responds with a cascade of stress related hormones leading to nausea, vomiting and vertigo. These physical reactions often take a till on your mental state too, leaving you feel miserable and disheartened.
Recent studies found that a particular, now identifiable part of the brain is responsible for the vulnerability for seasickness. It varies widely from person to person, with women, particularly mothers, and younger individuals being more susceptible..
The way people get effected by seasickness has a strong mental component too, and even will be magnified by strong odors.
But don’t worry too much. Many sailors suffer during their first day out, with symptoms typically diminishing after 12-24 hours.
In the days I only sailed recreationally I always got sick during the new season’s first day out, and even nowadays, when I have to work in the engine compartment upside down in a heavy sea state, some vomit will be a sure result. Even seasoned sailors as my Volvo Ocean Race hero skipper Bouwe Bekking, who has participated in 8 around the world races, still gets seasick on the first day of a new leg.
When I ask my clients, before we go out, whether they are affected by seasickness most of them answer they don’t know. They have been sailing on lakes or in the Med, and never experienced any sea state. My follow up question then is: “can you read while sitting in a car on a windy road?” If they get nauseous while reading in a car they also will be prone to seasickness, it’s the same physical process.
So what can you do to reduce the risk of getting seasick?
Sitting under a tree is a guaranteed remedy but not a very practical sailors solution. What does work is:
- Avoiding alcohol and coffee
- Be well rested
- Relax and immerse yourself in the ocean/nature experience
- Stay hydrated, keep drinking water
- Ginger helps suppress seasickness, take it as tea, biscuits, raw or dried
- Eat well
As you start to feel nauseas what will help is:
- Be on deck where you can focus on the horizon (being clipped on a with a bucket at in easy reach)
- Consume ginger (tea, biscuits) and drink water
- Take the helm, which forces you to focus on the horizon. Since you have to focus on keeping the boat oncourse it will also distracts your brain.
- Be patient, accept your condition and don’t try to fight it,.
And when all of the above is not going to work, you want to lie down. Take a bucket, close your eyes, acknowledge it is only a temporary discomfort and enjoy the gentle movement of your bunk while sliding away in a pleasant twilight zone.
Accepting your state of not feeling well does have a positive impact on the intensity and effects of seasickness. I have seen people with a strong need for being in control of their environment getting very sick, even to a stage where they stop communicating and just “want to be left alone”, leading to severe dehydration. Fortunately it only happened once I had to stop at the nearest port to disembark a patient for relief and treatment.
For those seeking preventive measures, several over-the-counter medications are available. However, it's important to note that medications containing antihistamines can induce drowsiness and reduce mental alertness. Some brands incorporate caffeine to counteract this effect. While these remedies can be effective for some, they may not work for everyone.
The most successful results I have seen is with SCOPOLAMINE patches. These are typically available only with a prescription due to unlikely but potential serious side effects, including hallucinations, extreme fear, blurred vision, agitation, and confusion; not so practical at sea. The patch needs to be applied 4 hours before you get exposed, and will last for 3 days.
My advice is for anyone joining a Canary Island milebuilder / Ocean Adventure trip:
- If you don’t get seasick or you are not sure how it will affect you: Do take the medication with you just in case, conditions might be more severe then you ever have experienced before
- When you know you will get seasick: get SCOPOLAMINE, but try it at home first to check for any side effects.
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