I'm not much of a crew but once 'helped'a solo sailer go portugal madeira, madeira canaries. As soon as we passed Sagres I turned green and vomited time after time after time for 36hours. A glass of water would go down and come back up truly as clean as it started. Thank god the skipper only needed me for the insurance he could sail blindfolded. I lay in my bunk Lee cloth up holding the biggest cooking pan like a long lost love. I prayed that we'd sink, ventured out occasionally but just got on the way. 36 hours later I was fantastic, greasy breakfast and at long last useful... ish. I'd gained my sea legs. As soon as we landed I was off to dry land only to find the walls of the yacht club shower moving all by themselves now land sick I staggered back to the boat very happy to be swaying...... So for me a few hours on the waters fine and longer trips great after the hell of getting my sea legs
My remedy is to an apple before I get on the boat. It doesn’t do anything to help with the sickness, but tastes better than anything else when it comes back up.
Here's one that makes no sense, but it works for my wife. She often feels a bit green on the boat, so much so that if the weather's a bit frisky we just bimble about in Langstone Harbour, just so she can prove to herself she can do it. We heard of this trick some time ago and strangely enough, it seems to work. Not sure how much this has a sort of placebo effect but it hasn't failed so far. About 18 months ago we had to do a ferry crossing, Dunkirk to Dover, and the weather was foul. There was a Force 7-8 blowing, sheets of rain and loads of swell - I loved it, like a rollercoaster. This was the time we tried out 'the trick' and it worked. It helps if you have reasonable hearing in both ears. You take an earplug, we use one of those little roll-up foam ones that I use on my motorbike, and put it firmly in one ear so it stops the hearing in that ear. That's it! Put it in a little before you get on the boat and wear it throughout. On the crossing there was a coachload of children who were very ill, and wifey actually mucked in with the staff taking them to the toilets and cleaning them up. There were burly truckers who've been doing this for years up-chucking, and even some of the crew looked a little green. Wifey didn't even feel a little off! We've used this every time since and her sickness has gone! Explanation? No idea, but it appears that as your balance organs are in your inner ear, and mal de mer is caused by the brain receiving different messages from ears and eyes and getting confused, by blocking one of your ears it tells the brain that your ears aren't working properly, so it then favours the signals from your eyes instead. Sounds far-fetched but works for us. She might look a bit silly walking around with a piece of dayglo yellow foam sticking out of her ear, but no-one laughed at her on that crossing! Excellent videos, John. I have sailed dinghies for over 50 years but just bought a cruiser 3 years ago, as my joints are a little tighter these days. I found your Day Skipper book online, which I've learnt so much from, and now I've found the videos it's making my Day Skipper Theory course so much easier. Keep it up sir. Thank you.
Commenting on my wife's account here. We sail out of Oceanside Ca. I noticed the more we daysail on weekends, the better I do on our overnight passages to Catalina. I take first watch and usually am so sick all I want is to run the boat up on a beach and get off the dam thing. My wife, on the other hand, gets up after the sun's up and comes out on deck with coffee and reads a newspaper. One year she did embroidery. I consider my self very lucky to have a wife not prone to seasickness. As said, after a few days on board I,m fine. Best place below on our boat if you're sick is the quarterberth. A great takeaway from Tom's video that I didn't realize before, is the importance of getting your head down a soon as possible. Tom, I have enjoying your articles for years and am now glad to find you have videos as well. Thanks.
Great lesson from the voice of experience...thank you sir! NASA research years ago found benefit from "motor firing to suppress vestibular input." In other words, strenuous physical exertion, such as managing a very active helm, also helps to minimize noxious stimuli from the inner ear. Otherwise, down below, amidships or quarterberth, and SUPINE is the gold standard, exactly as Tom describes. Nice to hear Tom put to rest the zombie wive's tale that sitting passively in the cockpit gazing at the horizon will help.
Only once been on a longish passage (5 days) as crew, but how I remember that joy of coming out of terrible sea sickness - about day 3 - and leaping up and down the deck like I was reborn. Suddenly all was well and I belonged on board.
I've been very lucky so far. I have been on many fishing boats off Anglesey. Not really my cup of tea,but I was with my Dad, and it was a bonding thing. The sea was calm. I caught a few cod and a ling. My Dad went white and green. I am 53, my Dad is 83, it is the only time I have ever heard him swear.
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns I will ask him next time I see him. I seem to remember you used to go up to North Wales on a big motorbike. it would be great if you would upload some stories while we are all stuck at home. You're very entertaining. Be well!
Commend your advice - never had travel sickness let alone sea sickness before and it got me out of a problem. The "get straight flat out horizontal" worked for me and got good sleep. Occasionally opened an eye when the boat "slammed" or the crockery levitated and clinked-down in the lockers. Remembered your advice. I'd never had travel sickness before of any form. So was dealing with the unknown. So - spot-on! Got a ticking-off from the skipper for not putting things away until explained seasick and done that advice (untied shoelaces in cockpit and kicked shoes off as hurled myself flat (and me going flat was the only "hurling"). Others - best location - yup. All of us went for the same location for sleep - cabin not forepeak. Another you mention - a task - they needed someone to helm on "a very broad broad reach" in big swell from another direction to the wind, as that heading would get us to a good place to turn into the destination. So I gave it a try, seasickness went and the rest of the crew were happy as I did a "balancing an pencil on its point" helming task and got us there.
My father started on the Campbells paddle steamers in the Bristol Channel before going deep sea, quite often the passengers would be sick over the side into the wind sending sick across the deck into the other passengers, this would start the others off until there was sick everywhere, unfortunately as a young 15 year old deckhand it was his job to wash the decks... for me, as soon as I go down below with the smell of diesel I’m off..not a nice feeling!
The only time I was seriously sea sick was on a ferry from Zhuhai to Hong Kong late one Friday evening, during one of the worst storms I had the pleasure to experience. I was keeping my eye on the trash receptacle, in front of me, mouth watering, then remembered a relaxation exercise that I used to use for my asthma when I was younger. Start at your legs, then you arms, then your torso, and you know all of the tension was in my stomach. Once I was completely relaxed the sea sick sensation left me. Amazing. Please keep up the great TH-cam videos, thank you. Cheers!
Thanks Tom. And thanks to all the other tips n tricks in the comments. I’m 50 years old and I’m going to be buying my first boat this year. 35 - 40 footer. And suffering from seasickness has been my biggest worry. I’d hate to think that I can’t retire the way I want to simply because my body won’t let me. Thanks again for your great advice. I imagine I’ll be putting all of these to the test. 😂 Fair winds and calm seas. :-)
Good to hear that it gets better! I’ve just started sailing and love it! I went on a whale watch yesterday and was vomiting nonstop. It was so embarrassing! I was ready to just forget sailing all together. Thank you for your video!
Welcome to the club. Thank you for the interesting post and there is hope that it will get better with age. Best regards from the Principality of Liechtenstein Joe
Ah. We crossed from Edinburgh to Bergen in 13m waves with a rope in one of our engines, so it took four days. Five of our crew had to be admitted because of dehydration. I was usually the seasick one, but I knew what was coming and took pills even though it wasn't allowed in the Navy. That nonsense of becoming drowsy, becoming seasick makes you much more drowsy. I've fallen asleep with my head in a bucket of sick many times.
I find best to keep occupied, the helm is my best friend especially facing forward instead of watching off the side of the boat. I cannot be upright below any longer than loo break or making tea/coffee/ soup from hot water in flask for the watch change. I prep food before trip so least amount of time in the galley possible. I'm down below just for bed off watch.
True, true. I almost always got seasick as a passenger, but rarely as a skipper. When a skipper, you too busy to get seasick. :) Lots of good advice and very optimistic! Thanks, Tom!
I've noticed there are two stages of sea sick, afraid you are going to die, and then afraid you won't, and right after that it passes. When I first went to sea, I got quite seasick, nothing worse than those first few trips 180 miles off shore, Gulf of Maine and George's Bank, in January trying to bag bait, and let me tell you nothing is quite as unhelpful for seasick that trying to rouse salt skate out of a barrel and stringing them up to hang up in the traps. Nothing else for it, just embrace the sick, you'll feel better after. Miserable, then having to go up to the fore peak to a tiny bunk to try to grab a few hours before having to do it all again. Then on my third or fourth trip, we left the river, cleared the Isles of Shoals, so far so good! Come dinner time and I still had my lunch, what wonders! Got on the gear the next morning and I felt great, even though the weather was terrible. Haven't really been seasick much since but I have true sympathy when I see some one who is.
Such great advice! When I was in the US Coast Guard, I would get very sea sick and as you said, after 3 days its gone. There isn't a better feeling than waking up after you get your sea legs and enjoying being at sea. Great video!
Back in 2014 I did 3 years of service in the Norwegian Coast Guard. We patroled the Barents Sea year round, and the weather could be crazy. I've ever been seasick myself, but I rememeber a young private. He had never been to sea and he looked like absolute shit every day. He sat on the bridge with a bucket and puked for hours and hours every single day. After some weeks he stopped puking but he did not look any better. His head always hanged low and he was always so tired. Almost like he had a hangover. But then, one day around noon, about 7 months into his service, he came out of his cabin and strolled through the common area. Smiling from ear to ear, looking like a new man. We asked what happened and he said "IM NOT SEASICK ANYMORE!!" And after that he was fine for the rest of his service time. Pretty amazing to witness.
That's a long time to get over seasickness, but he got there in the end! The worst motion I've experienced in the last 20 years was up in the Denmark Strait in a 37footer. I can imagine who you guys must have gone through. Thanks for the tale. Tom
I learned a trick in the Royal Navy which was when below deck to keep your eyes fixed firmly on the surface of your pint of ale at all times. It works like a gimbal for the brain 🤣
‘No one gets sick in the Solent…’ Afraid I have to correct you there…failed spectacularly Chichester to Cowes. I have though been rescued by Stugeron, did a very choppy offshore whale watch out of Boston and was one of the few left standing. Thanks Tom, sage words.
Recently came in from 5 days on a fishing boat. OMG first hour, the ship was I wanted to jump into the water and end it all. Life was meaningless never-ending pain and agony. Laying down saved my life. Antihistamines and ginger helped a little. But the most significant help was time and tide. Wait it out and pray for a calm sea.
I used to feel you were a maritime national treasure, now I know you are far more than that with a good solid global stance in all matters aquatic. Thanks For Posting During These Hard Times Ashore. We will get back, remember "Beyond All Things Is The Sea" Seneca
Thanks Tom. Excellent quote there. My father was a classical scholar who brought me up to appreciate such things. I never progressed beyond O level Greek and Latin, but I love to read Homer in translation. I'll treasure the Seneca. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Tom , I too was a poor Latin student in high school but after 40 years as a Captain mostly in large traditional sailing vessels I always remembered this quote. In good weather or bad when looking at the horizon this always comes to mind. While I have not unlimbered the sextant in way too many years, capturing a celestial body and dropping it to the horizon also brought Seneca's wisdom to mind. On a completely different subject. I am in the process of "Simplifying" a 44 year old double ended for a minimalist cruise ( including removal of engine) to Baffin Island in 18 months....any idea where I can get oil fired running lights. Feel free to email me at seadogwaite@aol.com with any useful leads Thanks in advance
The point you made about thinking about what you doing and focussing on a task works for me. If you are sitting around being a passenger, your mind wanders, you think about the boats motion and think about sickness, then you are physically sick!
I carry a spare foam mattress where possible - one easily grabbed to be thrown on the floor of the saloon for someone sick to get onto the moment they come off watch - there there is usually least movement of all on a small yacht (sometimes a quarter berth is as good/better, if there is one). As much as anything else, if someone vomits, it's easier to clean up down there, and doesn't leave a bunk soiled. Putting an oilskin or plastic-type canvas over the top end of the mattress, by the bucket, makes it dead easy to clean up, too.
Most of the people who talk about sailing are so complicated. You are one of a kind !! Im happy to have find you in youtube ! I have seen many of your videos
Tom is a truly superb storyteller. I get imagery like I'm reading a novel. He has a way to turn a phrase, it's just delightful. My goodness, is Tom interesting to listen to.
Thank you so much for all these wonderful treasures. I love your stories and the way you tell them. Learning and delighting in equal measure! Luminous!
They say there are two stages of seasickness. The first is where you fear you may die, and the second is where you fear you may not die! I'm like Tom, I used to be as sick as a dog when I was young, but these days it doesn't bother me at all. I recommend lying on your back in your bunk if you can, that works well for my crew. If they don't want to go below then I carry spare woolly hats and a hot water bottle to keep them warm. It gets better over time. Good luck!
Thanks Tom you have just brought back some fantastic memoroies of when I was app 12 years old and I used to get up at 4.00am to go fishing on an old cornish lugger called "Dolly" from Oreston Plymouth skipper / owner was Jack Harper, by app 10.00am I was completely pooped and the only place to get you head down was up on the fordeck curl up in the canvas forsail for a couple of hours then up and get back to the Mackerel fishing. great memories.
My grandfather was the skipper of the MV Lovat that sank in the 70’s. He gave me a tip when I was a kid when I asked him about sea sickness. He said to tie a towel tight around the midriff as you would coming out the shower or fashion a Cummerbund but very tight to keep your guts held in and high. I tried many years later and it works. Think it keeps the heave from affecting your guts like it does when u go over a hump back bridge. In fact I would say it has nearly an instant affect in providing relief.
I really enjoy your videos. Your enthusiasm is marvellous. I hate the sea as it terrifies me but I love old boats. I was pressganged into that Fastnet race in 1979 as my maiden sailing experience did it for me. I was so sick too. Keep up the great videos Tom!
I was in the RAF on Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft (based in Cornwall) at the time of the horrendous Fastnet '79 yacht race. We had Nimrods airborne 24/7 on Search & Rescue sorties when it all started going wrong & we carried large dinghies etc that we could drop from the bomb bay of the aircraft. Perhaps you should think about writing an account of your experience? You have my sympathy, given that this was your 'maiden' experience of sailing - as a skipper, I would not be inclined to take a novice on such a race as the Fastest; I am not surprised it put you off sailing for life, which is a pity. I am glad you survived.....
Always a pleasure to listen to an expert. Gone through the same experience. It does seem affect you less when you get older, but have studied the side of a yacht extensively on a night crossing in front of Europort when I was in my early twenties. No fun. I was send down below, feared it, but as I closed my eyes I felt better. The next morning, sailing up and down 4 meter high waves in front of the Dutch coast was a fantastic experience.
My first day at sea, as an Atrtificer Apprentice in '82 was on HMS Fearless. We sailed from Portsmouth on a chemical attack exercise in a foorce eight. My action station was up for'd in the space under the capstan. All of a sudden I was violently sick. My CPO rescued me from drowning by ripping my gas mask off. Good tips Tom, fair winds
Thank you so much for sharing! As for my own experience... For me it was about finding a way to surrender to the situation. How to do that exactly, I can't tell. I think it involves saying: It is ok. And to stop whishing I were somewhere else. And most importantly, when I am below deck I have to stop my eyes from darting around. They are searching everywhere for some reference, but that just adds to the confusion in the brain. Much the same way that closing your eyes brings relief, it helps to just slow them down. The approach from your wife is just brilliant! Visualise the stuff in the kitchen before going below deck... And this way avoid relyling on those scanning eyes... I don't know yet how I will feel in a small vessel on really rough seas... thanks for your honest experience and the little bit of hope :)
Personal case study. I rarely get seasick-a short spell of nausea uniquely happens when going below decks while getting rocked and rolled. That’s it. BUT my immunity happened only after a traumatic choppy 10 foot storm out in the Graveyard of the Atlantic in a 54’ boat. All souls except for the Captain and First Mate threw up and turned green. So hope exists after getting rolled. My dad, however, is prone to some intermediate seasickness AND he is a retired Senior Chief, USN with about a two dozen WESTPACs and short cruises on tall and short boys. So seasickness just depends on the person.
I too was seasick terribly as a fledgling sailor, until I sailed from Tenerife to Madeira. 3 days sick as a dog the whole time. After that trip, nothing! Your body does become accustomed. Empty stomach and greasy food in you is a no no. If you are sick, get horizontal below after your watch asap. 100%.
Excellent Tom. Thank you. Seasickness is a miserable feeling, afraid you'll die and afraid you won't. Getting below and into the rack works. I was a Navy corpsman on nuclear submarines ... believe it or not, they are pretty miserable on the surface when you're transiting out to your dive point ... which could be a good distance (weird pitching and rolling). Everyone always felt queasy that first day, usually if the boat was hot and the atmosphere hadn't settled in -- or god forbid they decided to snorkel and run the diesel -- ugh . After that, everything was good. But it was always the same!
My father joined the merchant navy in the late 40s as a 17 year old. His first trip was from Glasgow to Japan and he used to say he was ready to jump ship within 6 hours of sailing due to seasickness. The bosun kept him busy all the time, after 3 days he was fine and started to enjoy the work.
Great video Tom. Thank you. Makes a change to hear an authority showing some sympathy (or is it empathy) and genuine concern for the wellbeing of those following on.
First trip Merchant Navy, left Southampton and the Ship turned towards the Needles exit from the Solent. Me and my buddy were eating dinner as the sun set. I said, “I wonder when we will next eat”. We past the Canary Isles heading for Brazil before toast could be kept down. That was it! No more sickness in over 42 years sailing.
Great tips. Thank you. If I can get curled up, warm, black t-shirt over my eyes - I can quickly go from deadly sea sickness to quite a wonderful nap. But any light! (btw a black t-shirt, best eye shade. Don't waste any money on those purpose made ones, the always leak light. All of them.) You mentioned your daughter and wife cooked while afflicted, which reminded me: The Calypso, Jacques Cousteau's famous research ship, apparently rocked around so much in all conditions that everyone on board got sea sick - a lot - including the Great Man. All except Madame Cousteau, who never got sick and cooked for the crew. My own ridiculous bouts of la mal du mer in my sea kayak: It's like going from a steady 4 knots to about half a knot... every now and then.... Of course once I creep back inside the breakwater: cured! From all the sea sickness stories I've heard and witnessed, I think women in general can function better with it then us men.
Seasickness - 'First you're afraid you're going to die, then you're afraid you're not.' I remember being sick for three days on my first crossing. And just as you also observed, I was fine from then on. I remember being able to be below for as long as I pleased then, reading, searching in a locker, whatever. I still felt that odd swimminess in my head but it just wasn't able to trigger the nausea any longer. It's as though your body says, "Nope, not gonna happen. I've got this worked out." Your videos are always a pleasure Tom, thanks.
Thanks Bryan. Yes your body does work it out. It's the same when you've been at sea for a long time. You get ashore and the land is going up and down for a while. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Haha, that's right. I actually like that 'still on the boat' thing. Right now I just miss any of it. I hope we all get back to our boats and our lives soon..
Thank you so much...just a joy to hear your opinions and the way you spin them. I have been losing heart recently with the troubles our great nations are facing... it has in no small part pushed this land lubber toward the sea. You have given me a great deal of hope that I might find the peace I am looking for out there. Not to run from the problems.. it to get away from the social noise. God bless you Tom and your lovely wife Roz..
A good positive post Tom 😁 Only been seasick once when as a youngster we were in a storm, Perkins diesel was playing up, I was kept below with the strong pong of diesel fuel in the cabin. Since then luckily I’ve been ok. Worst thing is when having been at sea for a few days then once on land again, lying in bed and feeling like I’m still aboard
Cheers Tom, I think it was me who asked for this video. The information was invaluable: knowing what to expect and how to deal with it is like a cure. I can't thank you enough for this, it's proper relevant sailing talk - well it is for people who have never been sailing, yet. Last time, thank you 👍🏻
@Tom thank you for the video, and the comments are useful too. Another suggestion, it would be helpful to be shown the basics of the 'working techniques' of sailing. Don't worry I don't mean being a technical teacher. Example. What selection of knots do I need, and where do I need them ? You don't have to show me how to tie the knots, there's loads of vids on that; it would be nice to be an informal thing, eg. "And you'd need to know how to tie a reef knot here." You could do this in part of a tour of a sailing boat whilst informally explaining functions and dangers, stresses, and tips on those functions. It would have to be more than one vid though, and it would need a smart mind to plan out the content. A lot of work and yet it's just an idea. It's not the end of the world if u didnt do it, it would just be entertaining and at the same time informative. You could also do a 'Survival Tips and Yarns' video. Using all your experience, you could talk through necessities in kit and for different situations. That could easily cover quite a few videos and I imagine the comments would be quite eye-opening - and helpful to even seasoned sailors. Just a few ideas anyway Sir. Enjoy your day, and don't worry about anything at all 👍🏻
I get very seasick. And on one trans-Atlantic as skipper, I tried not to take anything. But after four days I still felt seasick. I felt I had to get over it for the safety of the crew. So I took one stugeron and that did it for the rest of the trip.
This is the best summary on seasickness ever. This includes scientific studies and articles in yachting magazines. Marvellous, thank you so much for putting it into such a simple formula.
Thx love the 3 day benchmark … it will get better ! Gr8 advice & Top tips from lots of experience, proper tough suck it up stuff 👍🏻salt of the earth 👍🏻🙌🏻
Hi Tom and Ros, thanks for another excellent video. If you are looking for another topic, I would like to suggest Ros considers sharing her passage planning approach. For her to reliably serve up 3 course meals for a crew of hungry sailor without fail regardless of the weather can only be the result of exceptional preparation, skill and experience. I think Ros has much to tell that many of us would find interesting. Cheers and stay safe, Tony and Julie
Thanks Tony and Julie. That's a very good idea. Trouble is, Ros hates being in front of the camera so she always shoves me up there. However, I will think about this and see if I can bribe her by doubling her rum ration... Tom
This made me laugh, in a good way. This was excellent advice. Unfortunately, seasickness can happen and all said here is spot on. For me it is especially important to be warm, hydrated and if possible to get some sleep before the next watch.
When talking with my father about seasickness while in the Navy in WW2, he said he would be such for the first day or two, then he was better. While working for WHOI in the mid 1980s, I got to go to sea for twice for research projects. The first time I used the Scopolamine patches. I never got sick but I was not quite healthy either. The second trip I followed the advice of the more experienced crew members. I took some Dramamine capsules as we left Woods Hole. I stayed on deck to view the scenery. But as soon as we started rocking in the open ocean, I leaned over the railing and "fed the fish". The rest of the trip was mostly uneventful. I did notice I could read a book inside without feeling queasy. Since then motion sickness has rarely bothered me. Occasionally it has. I don't hesitate to lead over the railing to feed the fish. I rinse out my mouth then I feel fine.
I was a sea sickness sufferer on even fairly calm trips in a ferry across the channel. A pal had a yacht moored at Burnham on Crouch and regularly invited me to join him on a sailing break in the North Sea. I avoid the invites due to my SS issue. Then one of my clients who happened to be a paid racing yacht captain told me to eat ginger nut biscuits before and during the trip. I did and I was fine and have never suffered since....
Just recently discovered Tom's channel. I'm going to take my time and savour the videos. There's a proper salty atmosphere with Tom's videos, born from real down to earth seafaring. This is just what I've been looking for, appreciate the uploads.
That put a smile on my face Tom, my missus was giving me ear ache about me having little sympathy for her when she get's it! She takes dried Ginger and pills. Sleeps the whole time, It's like being single handed! Keeping hydrated is the key, crew never drink enough water. Drinking tea is not good for sea sickness as you need a piss and the ladies cant hang over the side. Just get on with it. Stay Safe, Old Timer!
I’m an a acupuncturist and used to work on cruise ships. We went through the North Sea on the way in and out of the Baltic 4x/month. The seasickness wrist bands work great ONLY IF you get the stimulators in exactly the right spot. I used to offer a free service of adjusting them for people and I never found a passenger who had them on properly. I used them quite successfully. The only time I succumbed was when a passenger got sick right in front of me. The smell... On the ship, when it was rough, they’d put out bowls of green apples and saltine crackers. They helped a bit. I once asked the head security officer if he had any advice. He said, “yes, always make sure that you have food in your stomach.” I said, “oh, does that help?” He said, “yes, you don’t want the vomit with nothing in your belly.”
Few years ago I was on a ferry crossing the North Sea in very rough weather people were barfing like it was going out of fashion the toilets were awash with vomit I went into the restaurant and had big plate of sausages beans and mash staff were so impressed they let me have it for free 😂
Another great video Tom and good advice as always. Have sailed for years and indeed ex merchant navy never sea sick until the first time I sailed on a Cat. Turns out I'm allergic to anything with more that one Hull ;) Stay safe.
Thanks Frank. Ros always says that different boats affect her. She isn't enamoured of bolt-on fins. Likes a long keel and some serious displacement. Depends on their motion I guess. Tom
Fun episode Mr Tom! Anecdote.....my ex and I did many trips cross Channel, Biscay, Atlantic....and where I might have been green for the first day, she was a trooper and was never afflicted. The day after she became pregnant with our first....she only had to see the ocean from the side of the road and she was hurling her biscuits....from that point on she suffered every trip, long or short.....funny. Thanks, Andrew....and stay hunkered down! We will all get this C19...but older folk can only hope we push it back far enough that the hospital facilities will have more resources when our time comes!
Very sound and sage advise Tom as always ! Very frustrating that I can't get my vessel due to the lockdown, I have so much I could be doing and lovely sun to boot....
Great memories sailing a Rival 34 on the solent in the 70's, my first outing on said yacht was a trip from Cowes to Lymington during which I was quite literally paralysed with seasickness (couldn't move any limb, shaking uncontrollably and flat on my back). Next day I was fine.
Great sailing and seafaring yarns, once more Tom. Thanks so much for the entertainment and jolly boating talks, tips and videos during these grim times. As someone else said, we carry ginger biscuits just in case the missus feels queasy when first at sea, but luckily I've only seldom been afflicted though ex-Merchant, and sailed on all sorts. Keep up the great work, keep the hatches battened down, and good luck. All the best to you and yours. William.
When I was 20, back in 1963, I signed on as a deckboy on a 19,000-ton Norwegian oil tanker sailing from New Jersey to Venezuela, then up the Orinoco river, to an oil pumping station. I had never been on an ocean going ship, and the only sailing I had done was two summers on a one-sail, 13-foot catboat on Lake George, New York. I had never been sea sick before I signed on the tanker. Although I was technically just a deckboy, which meant scraping paint and painting, few guys wanted to serve on the MT Turkoman because everyone was always drunk, so the ship was grossly undermanned. They didn't have enough guys to serve as able bodied seamen. So I was assigned the job of helmsman... the 4:00 to 8:00 shift. [helmsman = at the wheel of the ship] As soon as the tanker got out to sea I started throwing up, and was told to go to my cabin. [all of us had individual cabins] After throwing up food and feeling terrible, and not being able to stand up, I started dry heaving, which felt just as bad. I found that the best I could do was to lie down on the deck of my cabin, on my back. I stayed like that for almost two days, after which the sea sickness vanished totally. I was then able to start at the wheel. If I could do it all over again, I'd take some Dramamine with me.
My advice for what its worth, While on deck, look out to the horizon, avoid looking into the boat or down the companion way. Sing. Stay at the stern of the boat, it moves around a lot less. Avoid alcohol. Eat something, not good being sick on an empty stomach. Drink water to keep up your fluids. Avoid smells. Before going below loosen your clothing, be ready for your bunk and go straight there. Lie on your left side, the stomach rolls around a lot less. When it is all over brush your teeth thoroughly, bile corrodes.
I've found that keeping a little something in the stomach helps, even if it's just to give you something to throw up. I'm partial to saltine crackers. The salt soothes my mouth and if they come back up their smooth and don't scratch my throat or burn my sinuses. The other one is bananas (I know, I know), they don't help with seasickness at all, but they taste the same coming up as they did going down. 😁
Listening to you is a joy. I get seasick half the time I have been out, thanks for the great info, would love to sail with a captain like you, cheers from Missouri USA
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns My mind is reaching (unsuccessfully) for an apt Joseph Conrad quote at this point - I have a little time and solitude on my hands to re-read the great man to find it! All bests wishes, R.
Great advice. My worst was on a rough round the Isle of Wight race. I was 5 hours below shouting at the loo. After that i have never been bad again. I always keep my eyes on the horizon and it seems to work for me. Stay safe with this terrible Virus. Best wishes Keith
I was a fighter pilot in the US Navy. Many of us would get sick flying, especially flying training missions like air combat maneuvering where we simulate dog-fighting. Sometimes, during a break to regroup, I would take out my barf bag, fill it quickly, and then get back to business. What helped me greatly was sucking on flavored antacid tablets, like Tums, before and during the flight. Kept the acid down. But, like you said, sometimes the very best thing is to get a good, strong heave overboard, then get back to business.
why dont you make your own ,on here youtube, im sure there would be a lot of intrest, its was watching your tv show that showed that anyone could make a boat and some did,and thank you for taking the time to reply.
I'm not much of a crew but once 'helped'a solo sailer go portugal madeira, madeira canaries. As soon as we passed Sagres I turned green and vomited time after time after time for 36hours. A glass of water would go down and come back up truly as clean as it started. Thank god the skipper only needed me for the insurance he could sail blindfolded. I lay in my bunk Lee cloth up holding the biggest cooking pan like a long lost love. I prayed that we'd sink, ventured out occasionally but just got on the way. 36 hours later I was fantastic, greasy breakfast and at long last useful... ish. I'd gained my sea legs. As soon as we landed I was off to dry land only to find the walls of the yacht club shower moving all by themselves now land sick I staggered back to the boat very happy to be swaying...... So for me a few hours on the waters fine and longer trips great after the hell of getting my sea legs
My remedy is to an apple before I get on the boat. It doesn’t do anything to help with the sickness, but tastes better than anything else when it comes back up.
Here's one that makes no sense, but it works for my wife. She often feels a bit green on the boat, so much so that if the weather's a bit frisky we just bimble about in Langstone Harbour, just so she can prove to herself she can do it. We heard of this trick some time ago and strangely enough, it seems to work. Not sure how much this has a sort of placebo effect but it hasn't failed so far. About 18 months ago we had to do a ferry crossing, Dunkirk to Dover, and the weather was foul. There was a Force 7-8 blowing, sheets of rain and loads of swell - I loved it, like a rollercoaster. This was the time we tried out 'the trick' and it worked. It helps if you have reasonable hearing in both ears. You take an earplug, we use one of those little roll-up foam ones that I use on my motorbike, and put it firmly in one ear so it stops the hearing in that ear. That's it! Put it in a little before you get on the boat and wear it throughout. On the crossing there was a coachload of children who were very ill, and wifey actually mucked in with the staff taking them to the toilets and cleaning them up. There were burly truckers who've been doing this for years up-chucking, and even some of the crew looked a little green. Wifey didn't even feel a little off! We've used this every time since and her sickness has gone! Explanation? No idea, but it appears that as your balance organs are in your inner ear, and mal de mer is caused by the brain receiving different messages from ears and eyes and getting confused, by blocking one of your ears it tells the brain that your ears aren't working properly, so it then favours the signals from your eyes instead. Sounds far-fetched but works for us. She might look a bit silly walking around with a piece of dayglo yellow foam sticking out of her ear, but no-one laughed at her on that crossing! Excellent videos, John. I have sailed dinghies for over 50 years but just bought a cruiser 3 years ago, as my joints are a little tighter these days. I found your Day Skipper book online, which I've learnt so much from, and now I've found the videos it's making my Day Skipper Theory course so much easier. Keep it up sir. Thank you.
The best shipmate is the experienced one who still listens. You're the best!
Very kind of you to say so. Thanks. Tom
Commenting on my wife's account here. We sail out of Oceanside Ca. I noticed the more we daysail on weekends, the better I do on our overnight passages to Catalina. I take first watch and usually am so sick all I want is to run the boat up on a beach and get off the dam thing. My wife, on the other hand, gets up after the sun's up and comes out on deck with coffee and reads a newspaper. One year she did embroidery. I consider my self very lucky to have a wife not prone to seasickness. As said, after a few days on board I,m fine. Best place below on our boat if you're sick is the quarterberth. A great takeaway from Tom's video that I didn't realize before, is the importance of getting your head down a soon as possible. Tom, I have enjoying your articles for years and am now glad to find you have videos as well. Thanks.
I live about as far away from an ocean as you can get, but I sure like your stories.
Great lesson from the voice of experience...thank you sir!
NASA research years ago found benefit from "motor firing to suppress vestibular input."
In other words, strenuous physical exertion, such as managing a very active helm, also helps to minimize noxious stimuli from the inner ear. Otherwise, down below, amidships or quarterberth, and SUPINE is the gold standard, exactly as Tom describes.
Nice to hear Tom put to rest the zombie wive's tale that sitting passively in the cockpit gazing at the horizon will help.
Only once been on a longish passage (5 days) as crew, but how I remember that joy of coming out of terrible sea sickness - about day 3 - and leaping up and down the deck like I was reborn. Suddenly all was well and I belonged on board.
You've got it David. Like starting life anew. Tom
Great advice. Additionally for day before and 1st day at sea. No alcohol and no fatty food..
Thanks Mike for that input. Tom
I've been very lucky so far. I have been on many fishing boats off Anglesey. Not really my cup of tea,but I was with my Dad, and it was a bonding thing. The sea was calm. I caught a few cod and a ling. My Dad went white and green. I am 53, my Dad is 83, it is the only time I have ever heard him swear.
I hope the swearing made him feel better. Thanks Jon for sharing that. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns I will ask him next time I see him. I seem to remember you used to go up to North Wales on a big motorbike. it would be great if you would upload some stories while we are all stuck at home. You're very entertaining. Be well!
I love listening to you Tom, half for the sailing stories and half because of your irrepressible spirit
Thanks Eoin for watching. It makes all the difference. Tom
When I go down below, I close my eye and feel about. If my eyes cannot see things tossing about, I do not get sick.
Commend your advice - never had travel sickness let alone sea sickness before and it got me out of a problem.
The "get straight flat out horizontal" worked for me and got good sleep. Occasionally opened an eye when the boat "slammed" or the crockery levitated and clinked-down in the lockers. Remembered your advice. I'd never had travel sickness before of any form. So was dealing with the unknown. So - spot-on!
Got a ticking-off from the skipper for not putting things away until explained seasick and done that advice (untied shoelaces in cockpit and kicked shoes off as hurled myself flat (and me going flat was the only "hurling").
Others - best location - yup. All of us went for the same location for sleep - cabin not forepeak.
Another you mention - a task - they needed someone to helm on "a very broad broad reach" in big swell from another direction to the wind, as that heading would get us to a good place to turn into the destination. So I gave it a try, seasickness went and the rest of the crew were happy as I did a "balancing an pencil on its point" helming task and got us there.
Totally agree with the down below and straight into the bunk. Worked for me on my 1st big offshore with the prospect of days on deck ahead
Thanks Cillian - pleased to hear an endorsement. Tom
My father started on the Campbells paddle steamers in the Bristol Channel before going deep sea, quite often the passengers would be sick over the side into the wind sending sick across the deck into the other passengers, this would start the others off until there was sick everywhere, unfortunately as a young 15 year old deckhand it was his job to wash the decks... for me, as soon as I go down below with the smell of diesel I’m off..not a nice feeling!
Well done your dad for not throwing up as well. Thanks for the tale from Pill. Tom
The only time I was seriously sea sick was on a ferry from Zhuhai to Hong Kong late one Friday evening, during one of the worst storms I had the pleasure to experience. I was keeping my eye on the trash receptacle, in front of me, mouth watering, then remembered a relaxation exercise that I used to use for my asthma when I was younger. Start at your legs, then you arms, then your torso, and you know all of the tension was in my stomach. Once I was completely relaxed the sea sick sensation left me. Amazing.
Please keep up the great TH-cam videos, thank you.
Cheers!
Thanks Tom. And thanks to all the other tips n tricks in the comments.
I’m 50 years old and I’m going to be buying my first boat this year. 35 - 40 footer. And suffering from seasickness has been my biggest worry. I’d hate to think that I can’t retire the way I want to simply because my body won’t let me. Thanks again for your great advice.
I imagine I’ll be putting all of these to the test. 😂
Fair winds and calm seas. :-)
Good to hear that it gets better! I’ve just started sailing and love it! I went on a whale watch yesterday and was vomiting nonstop. It was so embarrassing! I was ready to just forget sailing all together.
Thank you for your video!
Welcome to the club. Thank you for the interesting post and there is hope that it will get better with age. Best regards from the Principality of Liechtenstein Joe
Ah.
We crossed from Edinburgh to Bergen in 13m waves with a rope in one of our engines, so it took four days. Five of our crew had to be admitted because of dehydration.
I was usually the seasick one, but I knew what was coming and took pills even though it wasn't allowed in the Navy.
That nonsense of becoming drowsy, becoming seasick makes you much more drowsy. I've fallen asleep with my head in a bucket of sick many times.
I find best to keep occupied, the helm is my best friend especially facing forward instead of watching off the side of the boat. I cannot be upright below any longer than loo break or making tea/coffee/ soup from hot water in flask for the watch change. I prep food before trip so least amount of time in the galley possible. I'm down below just for bed off watch.
True, true. I almost always got seasick as a passenger, but rarely as a skipper. When a skipper, you too busy to get seasick. :) Lots of good advice and very optimistic! Thanks, Tom!
I've noticed there are two stages of sea sick, afraid you are going to die, and then afraid you won't, and right after that it passes.
When I first went to sea, I got quite seasick, nothing worse than those first few trips 180 miles off shore, Gulf of Maine and George's Bank, in January trying to bag bait, and let me tell you nothing is quite as unhelpful for seasick that trying to rouse salt skate out of a barrel and stringing them up to hang up in the traps. Nothing else for it, just embrace the sick, you'll feel better after.
Miserable, then having to go up to the fore peak to a tiny bunk to try to grab a few hours before having to do it all again.
Then on my third or fourth trip, we left the river, cleared the Isles of Shoals, so far so good! Come dinner time and I still had my lunch, what wonders! Got on the gear the next morning and I felt great, even though the weather was terrible.
Haven't really been seasick much since but I have true sympathy when I see some one who is.
Such great advice! When I was in the US Coast Guard, I would get very sea sick and as you said, after 3 days its gone. There isn't a better feeling than waking up after you get your sea legs and enjoying being at sea. Great video!
I’ve watched several of Mr Cunliffes videos and they are all excellent.
Back in 2014 I did 3 years of service in the Norwegian Coast Guard. We patroled the Barents Sea year round, and the weather could be crazy. I've ever been seasick myself, but I rememeber a young private. He had never been to sea and he looked like absolute shit every day. He sat on the bridge with a bucket and puked for hours and hours every single day. After some weeks he stopped puking but he did not look any better. His head always hanged low and he was always so tired. Almost like he had a hangover.
But then, one day around noon, about 7 months into his service, he came out of his cabin and strolled through the common area. Smiling from ear to ear, looking like a new man. We asked what happened and he said "IM NOT SEASICK ANYMORE!!" And after that he was fine for the rest of his service time. Pretty amazing to witness.
That's a long time to get over seasickness, but he got there in the end! The worst motion I've experienced in the last 20 years was up in the Denmark Strait in a 37footer. I can imagine who you guys must have gone through. Thanks for the tale. Tom
I learned a trick in the Royal Navy which was when below deck to keep your eyes fixed firmly on the surface of your pint of ale at all times. It works like a gimbal for the brain 🤣
Yeah, that is the idea they use on those 'water level' glasses
I've had seasickness in my early day. Not anymore. Spike Milligan once gave me a tip: "Sit down under a tree"
Ha, I was about to post the famous Spike quote but you beat me by months!😁
That would have to be some big tree to have on board.
@@jeffreysearle2996 spike milligan is a comedian mate.
@@rww805 thick aren’t ya ?
@@b4ds33d not thick enough to think there needs to be a space before a question mark.
‘No one gets sick in the Solent…’
Afraid I have to correct you there…failed spectacularly Chichester to Cowes.
I have though been rescued by Stugeron, did a very choppy offshore whale watch out of Boston and was one of the few left standing.
Thanks Tom, sage words.
It’s a glorious day when your channel posts a video. More so now then ever.
Really delighted to hear that. Thanks. I'm working on another now. Tom
Recently came in from 5 days on a fishing boat. OMG first hour, the ship was I wanted to jump into the water and end it all. Life was meaningless never-ending pain and agony. Laying down saved my life. Antihistamines and ginger helped a little. But the most significant help was time and tide. Wait it out and pray for a calm sea.
I used to feel you were a maritime national treasure, now I know you are far more than that with a good solid global stance in all matters aquatic.
Thanks For Posting During These Hard Times Ashore.
We will get back, remember
"Beyond All Things Is The Sea"
Seneca
Thanks Tom. Excellent quote there. My father was a classical scholar who brought me up to appreciate such things. I never progressed beyond O level Greek and Latin, but I love to read Homer in translation. I'll treasure the Seneca. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Tom , I too was a poor Latin student in high school but after 40 years as a Captain mostly in large traditional sailing vessels I always remembered this quote. In good weather or bad when looking at the horizon this always comes to mind. While I have not unlimbered the sextant in way too many years, capturing a celestial body and dropping it to the horizon also brought Seneca's wisdom to mind.
On a completely different subject. I am in the process of "Simplifying" a 44 year old double ended for a minimalist cruise ( including removal of engine) to Baffin Island in 18 months....any idea where I can get oil fired running lights.
Feel free to email me at seadogwaite@aol.com with any useful leads
Thanks in advance
The point you made about thinking about what you doing and focussing on a task works for me. If you are sitting around being a passenger, your mind wanders, you think about the boats motion and think about sickness, then you are physically sick!
Too right Paul. If you've nothing to do, it's best to think beautiful thoughts! Perhaps plan what you're going to do when you make landfall. Tom
I carry a spare foam mattress where possible - one easily grabbed to be thrown on the floor of the saloon for someone sick to get onto the moment they come off watch - there there is usually least movement of all on a small yacht (sometimes a quarter berth is as good/better, if there is one). As much as anything else, if someone vomits, it's easier to clean up down there, and doesn't leave a bunk soiled. Putting an oilskin or plastic-type canvas over the top end of the mattress, by the bucket, makes it dead easy to clean up, too.
Joyful human , tried , true, tested to extreme. Would love to be in your presence.
Thank you
Most of the people who talk about sailing are so complicated. You are one of a kind !! Im happy to have find you in youtube ! I have seen many of your videos
Thanks Giorgios for your kind remarks. Tom
Tom is a truly superb storyteller. I get imagery like I'm reading a novel. He has a way to turn a phrase, it's just delightful. My goodness, is Tom interesting to listen to.
Thank you so much for all these wonderful treasures. I love your stories and the way you tell them. Learning and delighting in equal measure! Luminous!
They say there are two stages of seasickness. The first is where you fear you may die, and the second is where you fear you may not die! I'm like Tom, I used to be as sick as a dog when I was young, but these days it doesn't bother me at all. I recommend lying on your back in your bunk if you can, that works well for my crew. If they don't want to go below then I carry spare woolly hats and a hot water bottle to keep them warm. It gets better over time. Good luck!
Thanks Tom you have just brought back some fantastic memoroies of when I was app 12 years old and I used to get up at 4.00am to go fishing on an old cornish lugger called "Dolly" from Oreston Plymouth skipper / owner was Jack Harper, by app 10.00am I was completely pooped and the only place to get you head down was up on the fordeck curl up in the canvas forsail for a couple of hours then up and get back to the Mackerel fishing. great memories.
My grandfather was the skipper of the MV Lovat that sank in the 70’s. He gave me a tip when I was a kid when I asked him about sea sickness. He said to tie a towel tight around the midriff as you would coming out the shower or fashion a Cummerbund but very tight to keep your guts held in and high. I tried many years later and it works. Think it keeps the heave from affecting your guts like it does when u go over a hump back bridge. In fact I would say it has nearly an instant affect in providing relief.
I really enjoy your videos. Your enthusiasm is marvellous. I hate the sea as it terrifies me but I love old boats. I was pressganged into that Fastnet race in 1979 as my maiden sailing experience did it for me. I was so sick too. Keep up the great videos Tom!
I was in the RAF on Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft (based in Cornwall) at the time of the horrendous Fastnet '79 yacht race. We had Nimrods airborne 24/7 on Search & Rescue sorties when it all started going wrong & we carried large dinghies etc that we could drop from the bomb bay of the aircraft.
Perhaps you should think about writing an account of your experience? You have my sympathy, given that this was your 'maiden' experience of sailing - as a skipper, I would not be inclined to take a novice on such a race as the Fastest; I am not surprised it put you off sailing for life, which is a pity. I am glad you survived.....
First time I've seen his videos. What a great storyteller! Great to listen to him explain seasickness,
Thanks George. Good to have you on board. Hope you'll keep watching. Tom
Always a pleasure to listen to an expert. Gone through the same experience. It does seem affect you less when you get older, but have studied the side of a yacht extensively on a night crossing in front of Europort when I was in my early twenties. No fun. I was send down below, feared it, but as I closed my eyes I felt better. The next morning, sailing up and down 4 meter high waves in front of the Dutch coast was a fantastic experience.
My first day at sea, as an Atrtificer Apprentice in '82 was on HMS Fearless. We sailed from Portsmouth on a chemical attack exercise in a foorce eight. My action station was up for'd in the space under the capstan. All of a sudden I was violently sick. My CPO rescued me from drowning by ripping my gas mask off. Good tips Tom, fair winds
Blimey. I've led a sheltered life. Glad you're still with us to recount the tale. Tom
1982? Fearless? Falklands? San Carlos? In the thick of it, in more ways than one... Kudos.
Thank you so much for sharing! As for my own experience... For me it was about finding a way to surrender to the situation. How to do that exactly, I can't tell. I think it involves saying: It is ok. And to stop whishing I were somewhere else. And most importantly, when I am below deck I have to stop my eyes from darting around. They are searching everywhere for some reference, but that just adds to the confusion in the brain. Much the same way that closing your eyes brings relief, it helps to just slow them down.
The approach from your wife is just brilliant! Visualise the stuff in the kitchen before going below deck... And this way avoid relyling on those scanning eyes... I don't know yet how I will feel in a small vessel on really rough seas... thanks for your honest experience and the little bit of hope :)
Personal case study. I rarely get seasick-a short spell of nausea uniquely happens when going below decks while getting rocked and rolled. That’s it. BUT my immunity happened only after a traumatic choppy 10 foot storm out in the Graveyard of the Atlantic in a 54’ boat. All souls except for the Captain and First Mate threw up and turned green. So hope exists after getting rolled. My dad, however, is prone to some intermediate seasickness AND he is a retired Senior Chief, USN with about a two dozen WESTPACs and short cruises on tall and short boys. So seasickness just depends on the person.
I too was seasick terribly as a fledgling sailor, until I sailed from Tenerife to Madeira. 3 days sick as a dog the whole time. After that trip, nothing! Your body does become accustomed. Empty stomach and greasy food in you is a no no. If you are sick, get horizontal below after your watch asap. 100%.
Excellent Tom. Thank you. Seasickness is a miserable feeling, afraid you'll die and afraid you won't. Getting below and into the rack works. I was a Navy corpsman on nuclear submarines ... believe it or not, they are pretty miserable on the surface when you're transiting out to your dive point ... which could be a good distance (weird pitching and rolling). Everyone always felt queasy that first day, usually if the boat was hot and the atmosphere hadn't settled in -- or god forbid they decided to snorkel and run the diesel -- ugh . After that, everything was good. But it was always the same!
My father joined the merchant navy in the late 40s as a 17 year old. His first trip was from Glasgow to Japan and he used to say he was ready to jump ship within 6 hours of sailing due to seasickness. The bosun kept him busy all the time, after 3 days he was fine and started to enjoy the work.
Thanks Alastair for sharing that. Those bosuns knew a thing or two! Tom
Great video Tom. Thank you. Makes a change to hear an authority showing some sympathy (or is it empathy) and genuine concern for the wellbeing of those following on.
First trip Merchant Navy, left Southampton and the Ship turned towards the Needles exit from the Solent. Me and my buddy were eating dinner as the sun set. I said, “I wonder when we will next eat”. We past the Canary Isles heading for Brazil before toast could be kept down.
That was it! No more sickness in over 42 years sailing.
Thanks Nigel. Sounds like a long session! Glad it came right for you in the end. Tom
Great tips. Thank you. If I can get curled up, warm, black t-shirt over my eyes - I can quickly go from deadly sea sickness to quite a wonderful nap. But any light! (btw a black t-shirt, best eye shade. Don't waste any money on those purpose made ones, the always leak light. All of them.)
You mentioned your daughter and wife cooked while afflicted, which reminded me: The Calypso, Jacques Cousteau's famous research ship, apparently rocked around so much in all conditions that everyone on board got sea sick - a lot - including the Great Man. All except Madame Cousteau, who never got sick and cooked for the crew.
My own ridiculous bouts of la mal du mer in my sea kayak: It's like going from a steady 4 knots to about half a knot... every now and then.... Of course once I creep back inside the breakwater: cured! From all the sea sickness stories I've heard and witnessed, I think women in general can function better with it then us men.
Excellent advice. Exactly what I do.
Seasickness - 'First you're afraid you're going to die, then you're afraid you're not.' I remember being sick for three days on my first crossing. And just as you also observed, I was fine from then on. I remember being able to be below for as long as I pleased then, reading, searching in a locker, whatever. I still felt that odd swimminess in my head but it just wasn't able to trigger the nausea any longer. It's as though your body says, "Nope, not gonna happen. I've got this worked out." Your videos are always a pleasure Tom, thanks.
Thanks Bryan. Yes your body does work it out. It's the same when you've been at sea for a long time. You get ashore and the land is going up and down for a while. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Haha, that's right. I actually like that 'still on the boat' thing. Right now I just miss any of it. I hope we all get back to our boats and our lives soon..
Thank you so much...just a joy to hear your opinions and the way you spin them. I have been losing heart recently with the troubles our great nations are facing... it has in no small part pushed this land lubber toward the sea. You have given me a great deal of hope that I might find the peace I am looking for out there. Not to run from the problems.. it to get away from the social noise. God bless you Tom and your lovely wife Roz..
Thanks very much Xander. Don't lose heart, the sea will still be there and we'll sailing it again soon. Tom
What a total legend!
Love your content! Give us more! AyAy Captain!
I didn't think I'd be riveted by a talk on sea sickness but that was a joy to listen to. It must have been great to be one of your students.
Cheers! So pleased that grabbed you. Tom
A good positive post Tom 😁
Only been seasick once when as a youngster we were in a storm, Perkins diesel was playing up, I was kept below with the strong pong of diesel fuel in the cabin. Since then luckily I’ve been ok.
Worst thing is when having been at sea for a few days then once on land again, lying in bed and feeling like I’m still aboard
Cheers Tom, I think it was me who asked for this video.
The information was invaluable: knowing what to expect and how to deal with it is like a cure.
I can't thank you enough for this, it's proper relevant sailing talk - well it is for people who have never been sailing, yet.
Last time, thank you 👍🏻
Thanks for the suggestion. It turned out to be interesting for quite a few folk. Some great yarns coming up in the comments. Tom
@Tom thank you for the video, and the comments are useful too.
Another suggestion, it would be helpful to be shown the basics of the 'working techniques' of sailing. Don't worry I don't mean being a technical teacher.
Example. What selection of knots do I need, and where do I need them ? You don't have to show me how to tie the knots, there's loads of vids on that; it would be nice to be an informal thing, eg. "And you'd need to know how to tie a reef knot here."
You could do this in part of a tour of a sailing boat whilst informally explaining functions and dangers, stresses, and tips on those functions. It would have to be more than one vid though, and it would need a smart mind to plan out the content. A lot of work and yet it's just an idea. It's not the end of the world if u didnt do it, it would just be entertaining and at the same time informative.
You could also do a 'Survival Tips and Yarns' video. Using all your experience, you could talk through necessities in kit and for different situations. That could easily cover quite a few videos and I imagine the comments would be quite eye-opening - and helpful to even seasoned sailors.
Just a few ideas anyway Sir.
Enjoy your day, and don't worry about anything at all 👍🏻
I get very seasick. And on one trans-Atlantic as skipper, I tried not to take anything. But after four days I still felt seasick. I felt I had to get over it for the safety of the crew. So I took one stugeron and that did it for the rest of the trip.
This is the best summary on seasickness ever. This includes scientific studies and articles in yachting magazines. Marvellous, thank you so much for putting it into such a simple formula.
Thanks for being in touch. That really means a lot to me. Tom
Thx love the 3 day benchmark … it will get better ! Gr8 advice & Top tips from lots of experience, proper tough suck it up stuff 👍🏻salt of the earth 👍🏻🙌🏻
Hi Tom and Ros, thanks for another excellent video. If you are looking for another topic, I would like to suggest Ros considers sharing her passage planning approach. For her to reliably serve up 3 course meals for a crew of hungry sailor without fail regardless of the weather can only be the result of exceptional preparation, skill and experience. I think Ros has much to tell that many of us would find interesting. Cheers and stay safe, Tony and Julie
Thanks Tony and Julie. That's a very good idea. Trouble is, Ros hates being in front of the camera so she always shoves me up there. However, I will think about this and see if I can bribe her by doubling her rum ration... Tom
This made me laugh, in a good way. This was excellent advice. Unfortunately, seasickness can happen and all said here is spot on. For me it is especially important to be warm, hydrated and if possible to get some sleep before the next watch.
When talking with my father about seasickness while in the Navy in WW2, he said he would be such for the first day or two, then he was better.
While working for WHOI in the mid 1980s, I got to go to sea for twice for research projects. The first time I used the Scopolamine patches. I never got sick but I was not quite healthy either.
The second trip I followed the advice of the more experienced crew members. I took some Dramamine capsules as we left Woods Hole. I stayed on deck to view the scenery. But as soon as we started rocking in the open ocean, I leaned over the railing and "fed the fish". The rest of the trip was mostly uneventful. I did notice I could read a book inside without feeling queasy.
Since then motion sickness has rarely bothered me. Occasionally it has. I don't hesitate to lead over the railing to feed the fish. I rinse out my mouth then I feel fine.
I was a sea sickness sufferer on even fairly calm trips in a ferry across the channel. A pal had a yacht moored at Burnham on Crouch and regularly invited me to join him on a sailing break in the North Sea. I avoid the invites due to my SS issue. Then one of my clients who happened to be a paid racing yacht captain told me to eat ginger nut biscuits before and during the trip. I did and I was fine and have never suffered since....
You're right Martin. You
can't beat a ginger nut at sea! Some people like crystallised ginger too. Tom
Thank you Tom for your cheers....I like old wooden boats like you..
I love listening to guys like Tom. He reminds me of Jack Hargreaves.
Just recently discovered Tom's channel. I'm going to take my time and savour the videos. There's a proper salty atmosphere with Tom's videos, born from real down to earth seafaring. This is just what I've been looking for, appreciate the uploads.
Thanks Mr Saturday. Very good to have you on board. Tom
That put a smile on my face Tom, my missus was giving me ear ache about me having little sympathy for her when she get's it! She takes dried Ginger and pills. Sleeps the whole time, It's like being single handed! Keeping hydrated is the key, crew never drink enough water. Drinking tea is not good for sea sickness as you need a piss and the ladies cant hang over the side. Just get on with it. Stay Safe, Old Timer!
Cheers Graham. Rock solid comment. Good reminder that it can be very dehydrating out at sea. Thanks and keep safe. Tom
Cold hard experience, that's what I get here, love it , stay safe
Thanks Minkus. You too. Tom
I’m an a acupuncturist and used to work on cruise ships. We went through the North Sea on the way in and out of the Baltic 4x/month. The seasickness wrist bands work great ONLY IF you get the stimulators in exactly the right spot. I used to offer a free service of adjusting them for people and I never found a passenger who had them on properly. I used them quite successfully. The only time I succumbed was when a passenger got sick right in front of me. The smell...
On the ship, when it was rough, they’d put out bowls of green apples and saltine crackers. They helped a bit.
I once asked the head security officer if he had any advice. He said, “yes, always make sure that you have food in your stomach.” I said, “oh, does that help?” He said, “yes, you don’t want the vomit with nothing in your belly.”
Thanks very much Thomas for that advice about the wrist bands - making sure they are correctly positioned. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns I swear by them Tom, always worked for me. Used to be called Seabands but similar ones are available from Boots
Few years ago I was on a ferry crossing the North Sea in very rough weather people were barfing like it was going out of fashion the toilets were awash with vomit I went into the restaurant and had big plate of sausages beans and mash staff were so impressed they let me have it for free 😂
Another great video Tom and good advice as always. Have sailed for years and indeed ex merchant navy never sea sick until the first time I sailed on a Cat. Turns out I'm allergic to anything with more that one Hull ;) Stay safe.
Thanks Frank. Ros always says that different boats affect her. She isn't enamoured of bolt-on fins. Likes a long keel and some serious displacement. Depends on their motion I guess. Tom
Fun episode Mr Tom! Anecdote.....my ex and I did many trips cross Channel, Biscay, Atlantic....and where I might have been green for the first day, she was a trooper and was never afflicted. The day after she became pregnant with our first....she only had to see the ocean from the side of the road and she was hurling her biscuits....from that point on she suffered every trip, long or short.....funny. Thanks, Andrew....and stay hunkered down! We will all get this C19...but older folk can only hope we push it back far enough that the hospital facilities will have more resources when our time comes!
That's interesting Andrew. Strange indeed. Tom - well hunkered down thanks. Hope you are too.
Very sound and sage advise Tom as always ! Very frustrating that I can't get my vessel due to the lockdown, I have so much I could be doing and lovely sun to boot....
Great memories sailing a Rival 34 on the solent in the 70's, my first outing on said yacht was a trip from Cowes to Lymington during which I was quite literally paralysed with seasickness (couldn't move any limb, shaking uncontrollably and flat on my back). Next day I was fine.
Good to hear you recovered so quickly. It wasn't a school boat from the National Sailing Centre was it? I might just have been the skipper! Tom
One thing I noticed with my crew is that fear and seasickness often go together.
Great sailing and seafaring yarns, once more Tom. Thanks so much for the entertainment and jolly boating talks, tips and videos during these grim times. As someone else said, we carry ginger biscuits just in case the missus feels queasy when first at sea, but luckily I've only seldom been afflicted though ex-Merchant, and sailed on all sorts. Keep up the great work, keep the hatches battened down, and good luck. All the best to you and yours. William.
Thanks William. Well battened down here and I hope you are too. Best Tom
When I was 20, back in 1963, I signed on as a deckboy on a 19,000-ton Norwegian oil tanker sailing from New Jersey to Venezuela, then up the Orinoco river, to an oil pumping station. I had never been on an ocean going ship, and the only sailing I had done was two summers on a one-sail, 13-foot catboat on Lake George, New York. I had never been sea sick before I signed on the tanker.
Although I was technically just a deckboy, which meant scraping paint and painting, few guys wanted to serve on the MT Turkoman because everyone was always drunk, so the ship was grossly undermanned. They didn't have enough guys to serve as able bodied seamen. So I was assigned the job of helmsman... the 4:00 to 8:00 shift. [helmsman = at the wheel of the ship]
As soon as the tanker got out to sea I started throwing up, and was told to go to my cabin. [all of us had individual cabins] After throwing up food and feeling terrible, and not being able to stand up, I started dry heaving, which felt just as bad. I found that the best I could do was to lie down on the deck of my cabin, on my back. I stayed like that for almost two days, after which the sea sickness vanished totally.
I was then able to start at the wheel.
If I could do it all over again, I'd take some Dramamine with me.
Hi Ralph. What a great tale. I can just imagine young you and the drunks careering round the oceans. Thanks for sharing. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns It was fun to tell the story on such a wonderful channel. Thanks, Tom.
My advice for what its worth,
While on deck, look out to the horizon, avoid looking into the boat or down the companion way.
Sing.
Stay at the stern of the boat, it moves around a lot less.
Avoid alcohol.
Eat something, not good being sick on an empty stomach.
Drink water to keep up your fluids.
Avoid smells.
Before going below loosen your clothing, be ready for your bunk and go straight there.
Lie on your left side, the stomach rolls around a lot less.
When it is all over brush your teeth thoroughly, bile corrodes.
Beautifully told, and right up my street, thank you Sir 👍🏼👍🏼☺️
I've found that keeping a little something in the stomach helps, even if it's just to give you something to throw up. I'm partial to saltine crackers. The salt soothes my mouth and if they come back up their smooth and don't scratch my throat or burn my sinuses. The other one is bananas (I know, I know), they don't help with seasickness at all, but they taste the same coming up as they did going down. 😁
You're right Leroy. We eat ginger biscuits known as 'Sick bix', or Ritz crackers. Never gone down the banana route! Tom
Listening to you is a joy. I get seasick half the time I have been out, thanks for the great info, would love to sail with a captain like you, cheers from Missouri USA
Such a joy to watch your videos. Thanks for the priceless knowledge you kindly share, it will not go unused
Thanks Skipper. Good words for the crew. Fair winds and following seas ~ S/V Cork
God bless you Tom - keep them coming
Will do my best Rob, but it's not easy without a boat! Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns My mind is reaching (unsuccessfully) for an apt Joseph Conrad quote at this point - I have a little time and solitude on my hands to re-read the great man to find it!
All bests wishes, R.
Great video thanks my trainee captains hat is back on my head Lol!
Great advice. My worst was on a rough round the Isle of Wight race. I was 5 hours below shouting at the loo. After that i have never been bad again. I always keep my eyes on the horizon and it seems to work for me.
Stay safe with this terrible Virus. Best wishes Keith
Thanks Keith. Same to you mate. Tom
As usual Tom, Nail, Head, Hit! 3 Days and your body gets to the rhythm of the boat. Sail Safe guys. Ant, Cid and the pooch crew.
Best to you all too. I feel as if we're old shipmates. Tom
I was a fighter pilot in the US Navy. Many of us would get sick flying, especially flying training missions like air combat maneuvering where we simulate dog-fighting. Sometimes, during a break to regroup, I would take out my barf bag, fill it quickly, and then get back to business. What helped me greatly was sucking on flavored antacid tablets, like Tums, before and during the flight. Kept the acid down. But, like you said, sometimes the very best thing is to get a good, strong heave overboard, then get back to business.
wish he would do the tv seires again, loved watching watching that.
Thanks Anthony. Believe me, I would love to do a second series of both 'Boats that Built Britain' and 'Boatyard'. Sadly, I haven't been asked. Tom
why dont you make your own ,on here youtube, im sure there would be a lot of intrest, its was watching your tv show that showed that anyone could make a boat and some did,and thank you for taking the time to reply.
why not make the series on here, you have lots of followers,im sure it would be a great hit
Tom, thank you so much for all of your videos. Such wonderful content, and so very well presented.
Thanks Joe for watching. I'm really glad you like them. Tom
There is a saying that goes: the absolute worst part about seasickness is realizing you'll live to experience it again in the future
But i thought as you got acclimatised it goes
On a trip, definitely! But in your life, you'll certainly feel it again someday.
Hi Tom Yes Stugeron is the BEST forget Kwells. What I like about Stugeron is that if you need to you can take them like Smarties . Cheers
Thank you Tom. Very interesting and informative. Cheers from Downunder, Gray
My pleasure Graham. All best Tom
Nice discussion Tom, sound advice. Ginger cordial is pretty good too, helped my mother in law on the Dover ferry trips.
Thanks Dale. Never thought of ginger in cordial form. Good idea. Tom
Big seas and short choppy waves are no problem…it’s the long rollers that get me!