How to avoid seasickness for safety

Seasickness can strike when there’s a disconnect between what your eyes, your body and your ear’s vestibular apparatus (located in the inner ear) detect about the motion of the ocean.

These senses can fall out of sync when you stare at a book or a screen, stir a pot on the stove, or are head-down fixing the engine. Your eyes see a stable, stationary scene while everything else detects motion, which creates disconnect in the brain and is enough to trigger nausea.

• Set out in the right conditions: plan your route and destination to work with the swell, tides, wind and forecast weather.
• Start out rested: when sleep deprived, your body struggles to equalise your inner ear, magnifying the likelihood of seasickness.
• Stay hydrated and snack often: dehydration amplifies the effects of seasickness, so skip the booze, sip water and eat small, easily digestible snacks.
• Take the helm: when your eyes view the world in constant motion and your body moves with the boat, this marries with what your inner ear is telling your brain and maintains (or restores) equilibrium.
• Adjust course: change the way the boat sails to enhance crew comfort -- reduce speed, fall off the wind a little, or change your heading to ride any robust swell more comfortably.
• Stock the boat with remedies: Kwells, TravaCalm or Dramamine (among other options), sea-bands or Reliefbands, and natural ginger-based remedies including ginger tea, cordial, biscuits and sweets.  
• Sit outside: stay out of the galley and engine room, and sit where there’s the least motion (less agitation, less regurgitation).