Several years ago during a world sojourn, I signed on aboard a 50-foot schooner, the Lady Sterling out of Suva Fiji. Lady Sterling hailed from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand and captain George Kessel anticipated the trip home would take 13 days. Shortly after pulling up anchor from Suva we set out into a wallowing sea that soon found me vomiting over the side.

Below deck I twisted in my tiny rack snatching winks of sleep only to be jarred awake as I banged against bulkheads and safety ropes that prevented me from crashing to the deck. Every moveable joint in the old 1923 wooden schooner cried out under the grinding motion. Even an old stand-up piano bolted to a bulkhead in the main saloon, creaked and tinkled under the strain. There was absolutely no way to escape the violent motion nor the vomit wrenching sea sickness. Could I endure the 13 day run that loomed ahead like an endless nightmare?

Fortunately, by the third day I began taking food, my first meal- chicken soup. Thereafter my sea legs strengthened, by the time we reached the Bay of Islands, New Zealand I was standing on firm sea legs but humbled by the experience. After all, I’d never been sea sick aboard a Coast Guard vessel. I soon learned, however, after talking to experienced captains around New Zealand, that sea sickness is a common curse.

One captain told of one crew member he signed up in Melbourne Australia aboard a sail boat for a run across the Tasman sea to Auckland, New Zealand. Sea sickness so overcame the man that his only remedy was to lie in a fetal position in the open cockpit at the base of the helm; a position he held during the entire 11 day voyage. Crewman at the helm walked on, walked over, and walked around the downed sailor, but he would not bulge, not for food, not for weather, not even to poop.

Some might tell you this man’s sea sickness was really a state of mind. Studies, however, have shown that motion sickness produces a disturbance to the balance system of the inner ear that effects the brain’s perception of space and the position of one’s body, resulting in nausea and vertigo. That may explain why keeping one’s eyes on the horizon, staying on deck, and avoiding enclosed spaces provides relieve from sea sickness. I know it works for me.

Others claim natural herbs such as ginger abate motion sickness. One study tested ginger against sea sickness in eighty Danish naval cadets sailing in heavy seas. One gram of ginger reduced vomiting and cold sweating. Ginger may also be found in ginger snaps, ginger ale and ginger tea.

Some, however disagree with the ginger remedy. A study completed at Louisiana State University compared the anti-motion sickness of ginger and scopolamine (a patch use to treat motion sickness) . The study found that scopolamine was effective in reducing motion sickness whereas one gram of fresh ginger was not. However, the study found that a noticeable reduction in vomiting and sweating did occur using ginger.

There is a product found in health food stores called "Sea Bands" which is a wrist band that presses an acupuncture point that many people find very effective for seas sickness. While others claim Dramamine II taken at least 1-2 hours before leaving a dock works wonders.

For certain there is one point all agree on regarding sea sickness- avoid drinking alcohol the night before a sea voyage. This could well explain why many sailors get sea sick after a night of liberty at a foreign port. I know I have.

Anyway, the point here is that sea sick remedies exist and do work and they are worth pursuing. A doctor’s consultation or advice from fellow boaters- which can be accessed through the Internet (search under sea sickness)- can provide helpful advice.

Sea sickness is not only a discomfort, it can also be a hazard- diminished senses can lead to hazards afloat. Boat smart: avoid sea sickness and good luck especially if you heading south with your boat this winter.

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Boat Smart is now on the Internet: www.boatsmart.net (includes Lake Michigan water temperatures and local weather).

Use channel 16 for emergencies, and channel 9 for calling fellow boaters.