All the things I have tried against seasickness (and what actually works)

This week, we answer an e-mail we received from Ása and Einar, an Iceland couple who wondered what we have found works against seasickness.
Before we start answering, we really want to make a point that we don’t pretend to be experts, nor to have all the answers.
If you think that we get something wrong, or that we missed something, let us know in the comment section, and help the community in the process!
Being seasick makes me badly nauseous and drowsy. But in the worst cases, it also affects how I think. I start being very irritated, self-loathing, and sometimes I want to jump overboard to make it stop.
Seasickness is a problem we take very seriously onboard. Being badly seasick means that Ryan may have to single-hand the boat. In some situations, we’ve found that it is better to turn back to port, rather than having the both of us suffering conditions that we cannot handle (or to be accurate, that my stomach cannot handle).
Before I set sail, I make sure I have my 4Fs in check. The 4Fs are a French thing that goes: Faim, Froid, Frousse, Fatigue. Translated it means: Hunger, Cold, Fear and Tiredness.
To that, I had “Hydration”.
It is said than having two of those parameters off balance puts you in the risk zone for seasickness, and I’ve found that in my case, it is true.
My problem with that is my lack of experience. My anxiety is very easily triggered by waves a little higher than usual, big ships or darkness.
So, unfortunately, seasickness happens. When I start to feels the first signs, I try to not make it worse. Things that can make seasickness worse are:
- Bad smells (toilet smells for example…)
- Reading, looking a the chart plotter, logging, looking at my phone or laptop will make me considerably worse, it goes without saying.
- Nagging crew members or being perpetually asked if I am going to vomit makes seasickness worse.
When seasickness kicks in, I go straight to the helm, I make myself a little snack (and stay away from sugar), I drink some water or some tea, and I stare at the horizon while trying to no get myself psyched up about seasickness.
Ginger works well for me, and I try to stock it in various shapes and forms on the boat: Ginger tea, ginger juice, ginger pills (Antimetil, that I found in France), fresh ginger, ginger cookies or ginger bread.
Ever since I started talking about my seasickness on this channel, I got tons of tups and recommendations what to do when I’m bad (thank you!!!!). Those include:
- Laying by the center of gravity of the boat
- Sitting on a gumtree, or a picture of a gumtree (I am so confused by that one! Someone please explain! Hahaha :))
- Using essential oils of Lavender, Eucalyptus or mint.
- Putting a earplug on your non-dominant side
While in France, I found “boarding rings”, that are some sort of glasses that somehow…. I can’t even describe it! I should really have bought those and tried them :)
I have previously tried the Sea bands, those bracelets that activate an acupressure point on your wrist, but they haven’t worked too well for me. They seem very widespread, so maybe they help a few seasick fellows out there!
What works best for me these days are the transdermal patches of scopoderm. It destroys my nausea and doesn’t make me drowsy, but the side effects can be unpredictable I am not a doctor, and this medication can only be obtained upon prescription (at least in the US and Sweden), so talk to your physician!
Those patches almost always consistently dilate my pupils and blur my vision. They leave me with a very dry mouth and a terrible taste on my tongue.
Ultimately, I hope I won’t have to always rely on those patches. I hope that learning more about my seasickness and what works for me will help in the long run.
I wondered if seasickness could be cured. I found that opinions about the subjects are divided. Ryan insists I get a run on the spinning chair that the American army uses to desensitize its pilots. I REFUSE :)
But there is apparently a seasickness rehab facility in Brest, France, not to far away from where I am from, where they successfully treated quite a number of patients with their 3 months program. So there should be hope for all of us!
Let me know if you like this type of video, and I’ll try to do one of those every month, on top of our weekly updates!
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Resources mentioned in this video:
www.morganscloud.com
www.theboatgalley.com
Do you have good resources about the subject? Leave a comment! :)
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Send us your questions:
Ask us whatever it is that you wonder about boat life, and we will answer in a serie of videos dedicated to your questions!
Send your smartest or dumbest questions (anonymously or not)
at [e-mail]

[@lauriebott3020]

Sea Sickness Remedy - First time Underway( USS Borie DD 704 Destroyer) off Cape Hatteras NC in rough weather I was SO sick I couldn't stand up. After the second day vomiting an old salt sidled up and gave me a peeled raw potato . I nibbled on it and halfway through it my stomach settled . I was back to the living after my third potato and got my sea legs going. Several other pollywogs tried the potato's and it worked for them too . Everytime we got underway I made certain I had a raw peeled potato available . I still get wheezy underway now but can control this whoozyness ... No guarantee it will work for you but Peeled raw potato's are my "spBuds" when I cast off :). I absolutely love your demeanor , your ability to make me feel your are talking only to me . Nice going . Please tell Ryan I think he's a cool dude. Cerebral and Focused . Your a great duo .

[@jonhering5660]

Your videos make me giggle out loud when I watch them...keep it up, I just love them!

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks Jon, my pleasure, really! :) /Sophie

[@SteveWrightNZ]

You are a super fun and nice person! The world is grateful for people like yourself! :)

[@scottconway2358]

The mere fact that you maintain your sense of humor through the challenge of seasickness speaks to your character and true love of sailing (both of you). Don't let it get you down, and please keep putting out your videos. You two are having a bigger impact than I think you could imagine. There are also some other things to avoid if prone to seasickness (coffee, greasy foods, acidic foods, etc.). I think your best advice was, "Commandment number 4: You shall try what works for you, and what does not."

[@leo92344]

I love your honesty! You have a great personality and it shows in the videos. A lot of sailing channels never show the problems. Keep up the good work

[@oufticom]

With the plethora of sailing vlogs available these days you really need something to get out of the mass and frankly you got it, you're fun and your editing is fun and addictive, please continue like that, I just binge watched all your videos from the start... Best wishes. Et j'adore votre accent :)

[@kathiehicok416]

Hello Ryan and Sophie! I started watching because I worked with Ryan's mom at DHS years ago and she has shared your videos on FB. I thought it would be fun to see what Ryan has been up to. And now I have fallen in love with Sophie and your adventure! I will wait for your video every week and think it will be my new Tuesday night entertainment! Wishing you Fair Winds and continued fun and laughter - and no more sea sickness!

[@GentlRebel]

Sophie, you have a wonderful sense of humor. We were laughing all the way through. Really well done. Hope the seasickness gets better over time!

[@normandgoulet8608]

Sophie, love your editing style and sense of humor, subscribed! Hope to meet you on the water one day.

[@rickkwitkoski1976]

Catching up... Good vid. Something that many people deal with. The more that I watch, the more I have to say you deserve WAY MORE subs! Thank you.

[@theinkartchick-artist]

You guys are the best! Sophie you crack me up! Best of luck with the seasickness.

[@rustie4242]

Here's a tip for you, turn off the autopilot, get on the helm and steer standing up for a couple of hours. This gives your brain something to concentrate on, A) your brain needs to balance you B) you have to look at every thing, like the compass, gauges, the sails and of course where you are going, C) keep your eye on the horizon. While you are doing this your brain is constantly evaluating your movement and the surroundings and should eventually get in sync with the sea. Remember your body has grown up sitting in cars where essentially your body sits still and everything move past at speed. Sailing is the opposite your body moves around but to your eyes you are hardly moving, it just takes time for your brain to understand that. So the key is stay on the helm as much as possible keep your brain working. Cheers Rustie.

[@peterengel7885]

The opposite happens to some people and they get car sick. Good advice above. The movement that you have on a boat in my mind I enjoy it. I don't know if that helps.

[@Mr00destruct0]

Rustie is 100% on target. I would add drink regular Coca cola. It will not stop you from getting sick - over the side but it will be very manageable smooth and easy.

[@mwaller66]

I served in US Coast Guard, this is exactly what we suggest to anyone aboard feeling sick. Works every time.

[@kentprice8449]

Sophie, what can I say, I love your videos! Your are so genuine and at the same time vulnerable and I think this is exactly how my wife would have felt. That is what makes watching you and Ryan so compelling. I'm not going to offer you some kind of solution as many of your other viewers have. I'm simply going to say, continue to be yourselves, that's what makes me keep coming back to your channel, and I suspect that's what makes others come back as well. You make me laugh and sometimes you make me cry, but you always make me want to see more. Thank you!

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Hi Kent! Thank you for the very nice comment, it makes me so glad to read that you like our channel :) That kind of comment makes it so worth it to spend the extra hours working on those videos! /Sophie

[@syexplorarconmigo8853]

Another great vid... Great footage, exceptional lighting in this one-- showcased your beautiful boat-- and enjoyed the on-screen items... Super helpful to alot I am sure.... I also get seasick-- and constantly monitor the 4Fs for this exact same reason for years... But my trick-- for me, is Bonine and zero alcohol the night prior unless its just a beer with dinner or small glass of vino... Look forward to when Ryan starts producing some technical vids about his learning experiences with seamanship and or maintenance... Cheers, Skipper T

[@sar4x474]

Just found your two’s channel. I really like your story telling skills and your editing. Of course, your sense of humor is very engaging. Keep up the great work. Oh, and on another tangent of discussion, carrots are very high in sugar if you’re trying to reduce sugar as you are eating your humus.

[@sh4826]

Sophie, do I like this video? Yes! You are a joy to watch and it is very helpful, light hearted while still serious, and edited together in a fun way! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing with the community

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks for the nice comment Steve! Glad you enjoyed it :) /Sophie

[@deepeddysf]

Lovely video! So much good advice. What I’ve found works is shutting my eyes. The main cause seems to be an issue the brain has with syncing up the movements of the body with the visual data. That’s why going down below is an almost instant trigger - you can’t see the horizon. If I need to go below to use the head or something I actually keep my eyes closed as much as possible and just feel my way down there.

[@PhilipAnderson]

Thank you for your report, this is my first time on your channel. Worth a revisit for sure. Please update when you learn anything new about this key topic, thank you very much!!! I loved seeing you getting a hug, need more of those every day, right?!!!

[@MrFurriephillips]

You are bloody lovely. This was a great video. I was only once a little bit seasick when I was below, in the galley; I went back up on deck & it went away. Gotta give yourself a horizon to view. xx

[@waynedoeblin6801]

I like ALL of your videos Sophie,and I’m with you,let’s get rid of sea sickness once and for all👍 See you next week 😊

[@sc-ez9fz]

Hey Sophie and Ryan, Hello from Oklahoma USA! I hope this finds you enjoying a passage and not sick. You are my new favorites on the blue. There are quite a few crews out there with similar issues. Delos and MJsailing cover this. From my own experience it does get better with time. I love all of your vids!!! Do what you love and people will love what you do. Thanks for sharing--s

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks for the nice comment Susan! Now that we sail a lot, I realize that it is much more of an issue than I ever could imagine it to be... and I can only imagine how many other suffer from it! Thanks for the support :) /Sophie

[@stephenmills7094]

Your videos are awesome. Your facial expressions are unbelievable. You make me smile with your sense of humor. Keep up the great work.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks Stephen! /Sophie

[@ericselimerogul433]

Hi Sophie, great channel and great videos. You're a great source of information for us, as we plan to sail a full year next July. It's always a pleasure to watch... BTW I generally refer to the F's as the 5 ones (in French). Les 5 F avec la (F)oif qui n'est pas un vrai F. So what you said about the bonus fifth F is a real one. They are the best prevention possible. But they don't always work!

[@seatravel8536]

Great video! You made a sick subject entertaining and enjoyable to watch

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thank you Sea Travel!

[@hansk.4482]

Hi Sophie. I feel really guilty to say this but I was laughing most of the time watching this video. Not at you or your seasickness but the way you presented it, brilliant. I used to have similar issues with the dreaded seasickness, but for the most part, I have gotten over it. I'm quite sure that you don't want my solution though as it is basically entails "getting older", allot older. Stick with it and I sincerely hope that it will start to subside. Keep up the great vids. Cheers Hans

[@adventurousboat8724]

I learned a lot from your video. Thanks for sharing! My experience is that I need a “warm up” period where I get horizontal and rest for a few hours underway. Once I am settled the weather can get worse and other things can change and my body feels calibrated. I think it works best on multi day transits with no starting and stopping. If you get the boarding ring glasses please post your experience because I find them interesting. My compliments to you both for a well produced series. Have fun out there!

[@RyanSophieSailing]

The more I think about it, the more I regret not buying those glasses. I’ll try to get my hands on them again, I’ll get them and will do a review! /Sophie

[@csranch2000]

Great video Sophie. Hope you never get seasick again.

[@travismcphee22]

Thank you for all the options.

[@GillisGil]

Very good info! Thanks!

[@laurentfroggy6631]

Et beng, très bien fait ta vidéo Sophie even though I don’t suffer from sea sickness. I had a great giggle at your expense 🤣 thanks guys and best from HKG 🇭🇰

[@MarkBottorff]

First, thanks so much for taking us along on your adventure. You're doing such a great job with these videos! I take my first ride on a sailboat tomorrow and this video has me scared to death. I used the GoSailing app to find a day-sail out of Los Angeles (Marina Del Rey) ... and I'll join a small crew for the day. I'm equal parts, excited and worried that I'll get sick. So, finally, thank you for these tips. I'm packing ginger and hummus now ... oh, and water!

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Mark, I'm thinking about you and I'm with you! I'm sure you will have a lot of fun, and well, I'm glad that you've got some info about seasickness beforehand. In case it happens, you'll have a couple of tools to deal with it. Let me know how it went! /Sophie

[@MarkBottorff]

Ms Sophie, I was fine while at the helm, steering ... even looking up at the windex ... back down to the compass ... for several miles. As soon as I sat down in the cockpit it got bad. reading the ASA 101 textbook and taking pictures with my phone may have been the turning point. I'm headed out again armed with your advice (all of it). I have to beat it or my plans to run away on a sailboat may be sunk.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

@@MarkBottorff Start by taking a sailing class and sailing club and doing shorter day sails. It took me a while to get over seasickness. Sailing a lot helped. More time on the water helped. And yes, look out of the cockpit as much as possible.

[@ThisVagabondLife]

Thanks Sophie, this was both entertaining and insightful. Should you do more of these videos? Yes please!

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks SV Skyfall!

[@andydunn5673]

Thanks for posting

[@seaturtle9992]

I am subscriber now,just because i love your attitude,you are very funny! plus i love sailing!

[@bill4nier]

Hi Sophie, Great video! Sorry, you get seasick. The two most important things to remember what works for you doesn't it will work for others. That's not to say you don't try it. And understanding your body. Hope you can get off that patch really soon. Thanks for sharing. 😍⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵😍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@RyanSophieSailing]

I agree bill4nier, a lot of people gave me advices that just don’t work for me... but some of them did! Cheers from France! /Sophie

[@HopeOfJoe]

After years of sailing, I have found a few things. 1. Do not go below unless it is to sleep off the passage. 2. Eating light snacks is a good idea 3. Do not eat stuff that causes more acid in your tummy 4. Being out in the air (thus not down below) is always good 5. Focus on something else You can outgrow the seasick feeling and event 😊😉🤢⛵️⚓️🚣✨

[@hollytucker4693]

Love your videos!

[@petertaylor7910]

Sophie, You are such a case and so funny. You have made my day again. I found the only way to deal with sea sickness is not to give into it. That is easier said than done. Keep safe, love you both.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks Peter! So glad to hear it :) you are right, seasickness remedies are so much easier said than done... /Sophie

[@stan3497]

thank you, good timing im about to go on an Alaska cruise

[@TonySaxby]

Great video 👍 glad I found your channel. I am hoping to get a boat next year. What make is your boat?

[@budawang77]

Very comprehensive and I like the humour. Would like to know how the glasses went.

[@lotophagi711]

Sophie, you have my sympathies. I have always suffered from motion sickness and know that "please kill me now" feeling. As a child any car trip of more than half an hour would have me winding down the window and heaving. I realize now that this was partly triggered by smell: my mothers's perfume, fresh nail polish and hairspray plus vinyl seats and both my parents puffing away at cigarettes (this was the 1960's) . Later as an adult I did a lot of sailplane flying (planeur) and on hot days when there was no horizon I would become nauseous and had to land a couple of times because of it. At the time I had a thousand hours or so as pilot - so no you don't get used to it. I also have a friend, an ex-military fast jet pilot who admitted that he suffered motion sickness under similar circumstances. So I guess you don't get used to it. What works fro me? Well I find Stugeron (Cinnarizine) very good. We have an annual two week charter in the Greece which is pretty much all the sailing I do now. I take the drug before and for the first 3 days while I settle in. By the third day I find I can fry eggs and unblock heads underway without feeling too bad although I have to be careful about staying below too long. I don't like taking drugs but as skipper I need to be able to function. I have found that when you feel like puking then puke. No point in being brave and hanging on. Stay hydrated. I am always concerned about crew who go quiet and will nag them until they tell me what's wrong. If we are out for a while then it's straight downstairs to bed with a bucket taking there sailing gear off before they get below. Don't muck about just do it. Amazing how after a couple of hours sleep they perk up. Anther thing I have learnt is to only eat and drink things that taste good on the way up as well as the way down. As you say ginger is good. So I drink ginger beer and eat ginger nuts (cookies in the UK). Also for salty snacks work, particularly Hoola-Hoops en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hula_Hoops Don's ask me why they just work for me, it may be psychosomatic. When you get behind the helm actively steer rather than let the autopilot do the work. It may not get better but you will learn to live with it..

[@richardsteele928]

Luckily I'm not one to get seasick, but I did enjoy this video. I truly think it has a lot to do with your good looks and your personality. Keep them coming.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks! :)

[@bbuck]

Good morning Ryan and Sophia. Nicole here currently in Gulfport Mississippi heading to California soon and then to Hawaii to bring a boat back to Los Angeles. I love that I found you guys on KZbin my biggest fear of being on the ocean is my seasickness and how it affects the other crew I know after watching your video I need to be good to myself, it usually last 30 hours or so and I am excited to try the one ear plug in the non-dominant side ear. If you have tried it since your video, please let me know how it worked as I will, as I will enjoy your adventures. Cheers, Nicole.

[@dbkiltz]

Just found your channel a few days ago & am enjoying the archives... I'll qualify with "I'm not a sailor", just sharing what another channel shared. Dan & Kika with Sailing Uma found that if they ate more simply (no greasy food) the night before a passage & didn't have alcohol they didn't have as much of a problem. They talked about it in their video when they left Canada for their Atlantic crossing.

[@waltervanderboor]

Can't believe its already five years ago you filmed this. Great video. Like Ryan I have zero seasickness, no matter what the sea condition... but my wife can be already sick in a marina or anchorage, let alone a hefty passage. We tried many things, like you mention, given we live in Asia some Dutch remedies shave been difficult to get. hence looking for alternatives I bumped in to this oldy...but good video. I missed what I believe is the best remedy I grew up with hearing about one remedy that always worked and its very Dutch. We call them "zure bommen" and its basically nothing else but "Pickles" ( Sour sweet small cucumbers that have been in the sour for a long time). The little online information about using it as a medicine is rather contradicting. But It's what we used to have at home and we lived on an island and found ourselves on the water a lot... While sailing I gave it to passengers and the general response was that it helped. And last time we tried... My wife also felt much better. unfortunately, hard to get where we spend most time ... I do believe that one needs to create a horizon to stabilize the balance and it's best to hand steer the boat when you feel seasick. just switch off auto pilot for a while. In my youth we also had sour sweet onions. Ginger and salty cookies and salty herring ( a raw salty fish, its not for every one) all recommended but in low quantities as it can trigger other issues. During the VOC time they believed that chewing on a lemon helped.. .

[@jaappiersma3020]

Hi Ryan and Sophie, just watched a couple of your videos and they are really entertainingand funny. I just turned 70 this year and will embark on my sail around the world as well. Just need to buy a boat. I have plenty of experience (over 20k miles and at least 15k in the last 3 years including two Atlantic crossings). I normally suffer from seasickness as well, it doesn't effect my ability to function, still can do watches and once I vomit it is normally fine after that. Totally agree with your four F's. Here is something that might help. On one of my Atlantic crossing a fellow crew member suggested I should get the "Puma-method". This is something NASA developed for astronauts to overcome travel sickness. It is $40 and it exist out of a number of exercises with your head in order to desensitise you for seasickness. This has helped me incredible (as long as I follow all your other advices like no alcohol the night before, make sure your tommy is filled, you drink enough and you have the right body temperature). It's worth a try.

[@JCAJCA3]

Well I found your channel about a week ago. Thought it was great. You so remind me of Appalachia's Homestead with Patara its scary. You have to be sisters. Look her up on you tube I think you will enjoy her wit. I went back and binged watched all the prior episodes. Really, really enjoyed them. You guys are doing great. Keep it up. GOD bless you two. JC

[@Jakfilm]

Thanks Sophie. I don't usually get seasick (just a couple of times) but that doesn't mean I don't worry about it.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

I cross my fingers it never is too much of an issue for you! /Sophie

[@richardobrien9492]

The best video!!!!

[@granthutchison9892]

Going on a fishing charter next week. Been a couple times B4. 1x no sea sickness and 1x yes sick. Partied hard and had a late night B4. Plus the boat was small. Will hopefully right the ship with another no sick trip. Will throw all your ideas at it ✌️

[@dominiquejacques4726]

Sophie, you did a fantastic job in this video! All your videos are very entertaining! 2 thumbs up! Somebody mentioned to me that coffee is not good if you get seasick.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks Dominique! No coffee before or during a sail is my curse... i love it so much :) But I replace it with a ginger lemon tea to keep the seasickness away! Thanks for the nice feedback! /Sophie

[@venusbeautygirl]

You make this sickness sound fun! Its so scary!!!😱😱😱

[@lydiaajohnson]

Right there with you, sister!

[@boguschinchilla3079]

Ok, I've gotten my Ryan & Sophie fix... for now. The most entertaining and informative seasickness video ever. Have you ever been so sick you turned green? Once while sailing in Semarang harbor Java Indonesia years ago I watched a man physically turn green before he ejected a really good lunch consisting of ... nah... TMI. Good luck with your condition. I've a feeling that time on the water will improve your ability to resist seasickness. Take Ryan up on his pilot's chair, it would make a hilarious video... at least for those of us watching.

[@asgeirsn]

Great video! My go-to solution is Meclizine, sold as Postafen here in the Nordics. One pill one hour before departure usually does the trick. But I'll for sure take note of your tips and tricks!

[@execproducer100]

Any side effects? Thanks!

[@asgeirsn]

@@execproducer100 You might get drowsy, but not too much usually.

[@bjrnjohannessen1915]

Jepp - I liked it - and your humor is enjoyable -

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks Bjørn!

[@CraigRBoyle]

You will grown out of it Sophie.

[@mattc1664]

Ohh Sophie.....Where is a gum tree?? On land...lol Aussie sense of humour. Gotta love it.

[@jimjam3s]

Ear plugs by far the best remedy I have found in 35 plus years of commercial fishing. Nice video, thanks

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks! I’ll definitely try the earplug thing... /Sophie

[@benoitcosials]

I planned to get my life on a boat and will get my first training in a few weeks. I am a little nervous to discover how I will react…. I will follow your lead and start my mental training for not fearing seasickness :-)

[@deth2allbutmetal74]

Here in the US, Anesthesiologist use Scopolamine on patients go through surgery to combat the negative effects of anesthesia. Once I rubbed my eyes before washing my hands after applying the patch. It caused my pupils to dilate. So, I make absolutely sure to wash my hands after applying the patch. I also have thin hairs behind the ear so I shave just a small surface and the patch sticks more securely.

[@chrischerry2787]

I love fishing, but I get seasick from time to time (sometimes even with the appropriate drugs). This is a useful video with some good advice. Thank you 😊👍

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Glad that it helped! Ryan

[@monhmonhmonhmonh]

12:34 A small hog sounds like something quite hard to get hold off on a sail boat... Joke aside, just started binge watching your channel and loving it so far. Buying a sailboat is still a distant dream atm but hey everyone needs to get inspired one day.

[@liznelson2930]

Have done part of just a coastal trip big rolly waves not nice was very sick I think your right some of it is fear , anxiety first time jitters, told my husband that if he wanted to do the Pacfic I would meet him there 😉 but really would like to find something to fix it so we can carry on doing what we love to do , thanks Sophie I know we're not the only ones that get sick

[@firstnationsindian8062]

In the Navy, they always told us to stop thinking about it and get busy. Also the ear plug in one ear and strong ginger candy or tea works best. stay safe.

[@arslin]

I work for the US Navy. I happened the measure my weight the first day I went out on a medium displacement vessel I lost it. I up-chucked every 15 mins for 8 hours. When I got home, I had lost 5 pounds. My wife is a pharmacist and recommended the patch... prescription, but it worked. I recommend to coworker who had the same problem, and used the patch with great success.

[@karitane]

My sickness remedy works some of the time: Eat good food, stay off the alcohol at least 24 hours before sailing, keep fit, sleep well, stay on deck and stay focused on the horizon as much as possible. I commented on your ability to communicate with your subscribers and feeling connected to your community....best ever Sophie. Great sailing to you both.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

You are right, it all starts with good habits :) Thanks for the support, I really appreciate! /Sophie

[@wanambi8553]

The best is eating an apple. It does not help against seasickness but the taste while eating and while vomit is the same ;-) To be serious, it is very individual, as you said, what helps and what doesn't. There are a lot of drugs available helps for travel sickness as well as for sea sickness. But mostly they make tired or has some other side effects. I learned seasickness goes away after three days at sea. Of course the construction of a boat is important. We prefer to sit inside the boat what means the cockpit is deep and near the center of gravity. As less side movement as better it is.It's very interesting that only the side movements caused from waves or rolling from backstay winds create seasickness. Close hauled or hauled courses mostly don't create nausea. Fair winds Tom

[@ww1aero]

After getting wickedly sick on a sailboat trip in a storm, I felt murderous, I got a scopolamine patch from a family friend who was on the boat with us. I very rarely use any prescription drugs, so I thought I might be sensitive to the full patch dose. So I did what the instructions tell you not to do, and cut one in half. Worked great, within about 34 to 40 minutes I was feeling fantastic and even ate some salami and cheese...lol. I put a piece of the adhesive strip I cut from a Bandaid, over the cut side of the patch to keep it from evaporating. And stored the yet to be used cut half in plastic wrap, and it worked fine after sitting for about a week, for our return trip. Using only half a patch probably lessened any potential side effects too, I just noticed I still felt like I was on a boat for a about a day, after taking off the half patch, when walking around the Island.

[@FitOutPost]

“Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer, but wish we didn't.” ~ Erica Jong

[@DocLois2010]

You are a VERY funny person!

[@todance2]

Hey Sophie, if the scopolamine patches are to strong for you i would try half a patch or less or even used patch or only on one ear. Tray to lower the dose in thees ways until your adverse effects diminish' good luck.

[@KandiSueTheBlue]

⛵🌴😎I too am a pro at seasickness. Have tried all the remedies (except earplugs). Scop worked ok for me but the side effects were unreal. I had blurred vision, cotton mouth and was extremely funny...well I thought I was lol Over 75,000 miles later I find ginger is the best and concentrating on my breath is key as I used to hold my breath. Thanks for a great informational vid. Just wonderful.⛵🌴😎

[@kat1gb]

I use the patches too (they work sometimes) ... from what i understand, the blurry vision is if you touch your eyes after touching the patch. So be super careful to wash your hands after touching them. And mints help both with seasickness and with the dry mouth. That being said, I'm obviously on this video because we're planning a sailing trip and i get awful motion sickness, so what do i know? Lol

[@davexvs]

brilliant video full of information if any of it works then alls good looking forward to your next video {:-) PAV

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks Pav! :)

[@zegerwijnands3505]

Unfortunately a pro at being seasick and therefor recognise the 4F’s 👍 Also when you sit at the rudder to look at the horizon: start steering (switch to manual steering) .... helps to take your mind of it and keeps you occupied. Don’t focus on being sick ... do something else 😇😀 (works for me, sometimes hehe). Hang in there ..... age will reduce it, or so they say 🤪🤪🤪

[@voilemontagne]

En France vous pouvez trouver un médicament qui s'appelle Mer calme je crois que c'est un peu différent de ce qui est cite dans votre vidéo je sais pas si ça aide mais voilà. Et bonne vidéo comme d'hab :)

[@edwardfinn4141]

Sophie, re the scopolamine patches, be very sure to wash your hands immeadiately after applying the patches. A little trace of that drug in your eye, from rubbing them, will definetely dilate your pupils. The scopolamine works best for me. Other things that I find helpful : Go stand behind the wheel and hand steer. No coffee or alcohol the day before.- Black tea is good. Empty stomach. Minimize time below , lie down as soon as possible. Stay hydrated for dry mouth , water or tea, or ginger ale

[@brucebrown9604]

Great video. Our experience: the glasses DO work, even after the onset of seasickness. The downside is that they are not overly durable. Other tips: don’t dress too warmly nor too lightly ; no alcohol the day before ; no cucumbers. Eat lightly, not too fatty. Porridge is easy to digest and if it comes up, well it won’t be too bad... Avoid reading below deck. Stay busy above deck, keep your mind active. And yes, the 4 f’s will usually get you 😎

[@arthurpryor773]

Sophie, i could watch and laugh with you all day long on any subject. your humor is amazing and i enjoy it.......and like you i am waiting to see you in the Caribbean, relaxing in the sun, and in a bikini..... especially the bikini part.. seriously, you are an amazing person and i believe you will find your own solution so that you can assist Ryan at the helm.....thank you, with love from texas....

[@vanislerider7311]

I got seasick once off Key West....I ended up jumping into the water for a swim and the sickness disappeared. No problem back on the boat.

[@theconefamilyadventures4226]

I get sea sick because my left ear gets clogged up from allergies, mucus, or what ever closing my Eustachian tube up so my balance is not equalized. It also takes a long time when I go scuba diving to descend and when I come up I have a chance of getting vertigo around the 15-20 ft range because my ear wont clear on the left. When i am on a boat fresh cold air helps ad chewing on ice for me. the cold and chewing I think helps open my ear tube up restoring balance and fixing my dizziness/ sea sickness.

[@AndyPidsleyAPi]

Schopiderm patches work best for me, but so does being busy in charge of a vessel. However once I used two in a row (they should last 3 days per patch) and one of my pupils blew wide open, I thought I had had a stroke, however this is listed in the side effects. The first time I used one for 6 days and it worked without side effects. Ginger beer is good if you just start to feel a little sick.

[@CraigOverend]

Interesting to hear about your sensitivity to smell, mine increases when I get migraines and the only thing that alleviates them is a neck massage to relax my neck muscles. My suggestion is to ask Ryan for a neck massage, even when you're not feeling sea sick to make sure you stay relaxed. ;^) I also get motion sickness when my eyes see stillness but my body is moving. Those dilated pupil patches may force your brain to use your inner ear over eyesight. Could be that the brain trusts the eyes more than the inner ear and may need retraining over time. Probably how those glasses work if you use them long enough. Otherwise maybe you can sit on the stove and gimbal with it as the boat rocks, that might keep your meals from spilling out of you. :-P

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Love the suggestions Craig! Especially the stove gimbal, I shall try that with the burner on to keep me warm! 😂 /Sophie

[@MarkBottorff]

Sophie, have you tried Reliefband? This is a Fitbit looking thing you wear on your wrist ... sends a light shock up your median nerve (underside of your wrist). After 5 fairly short sailing trips I'm about to give up on the dream. This is my last chance. Curious if you had any experience with it.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Hi Mark! Yeah, I've heard about it but haven't tried yet.This winter, I'll be doing a list of things I want to try, and the Reliefband is definitely on the list... /Sophie

[@TradeBinary]

Sailed with a third mate who was susceptible to seasickness. His preventative steps were to load up on carbs before setting sail. Lots of potatoes or mashed potatoes on toast with lots of sushi ginger. That's the thinly sliced ginger in a sweet rice wine vinegar. He would eat that the first few days only. No coffee, nothing with oil. He also had a set of breathing exercises that he would do if he started feeling funny. Many guests who said they might get seasick tried his regime and said it worked/prevented them from getting sick.

[@thatdutchguy2882]

The Gum-tree thing is complete bollox. The for F's and the Ginger are what work, great video 👍-up.

[@andrewgillis3073]

Every person is different, so no one treatment is for everyone. Lord Admiral Nelson of the British navy was always sea-sick when anchored. Another way to reduce the symptoms is to steer the boat. This works for people with car sickness as well.

[@maritzvanzyl1027]

Great video, the best on this subject I have seen.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Wahoo, thanks Maritz :) /Sophie

[@ame2deo]

Last time I sailed everyone was seasick and I didn’t. I had seasick sometimes it happens and it’s due of too much Saoco of the night before. Anyway I’ve not been seasick probably because I was steering (due to autopilot failure). Maybe in the it’s like in cars...usually those who are sick are never the pilot. So my suggestion is: take the bar next time and start focus on keeping the route, taking the waves in the best ways while keeping the sails right.

[@richardturpin7910]

Something you can try to lower the smells in the head is put a small amount of the chemical you put in the tank while you are at dock. By small I mean around a cap full. There are some bio-degradable ones on the market that do not have a strong smell. Put it in after you flush.

[@yankorusev]

Sea sickness for me is the worst feeling possible. I get ‘pins and needle’ ,my body temp drops and I feel totally helpless. Vomiting is horrible but the lead up is even worse. I find now that Dramamine helps a hell of a lot. The downside is that Dramamine can make me very drowsy even the less drowsy version

[@sailingsolen8291]

For seasickness the best is "Cinnarizine 15 mg Tablets" everyone in my crew if have this problem is taking one tablet before we leave harbor. Try it :) Fair winds ! :)

[@davidmartin7997]

A couple thoughts: 1) avoid eating any greasy food for eight hours before sailing; 2) try a slice of fresh ginger under your tongue when the nausea begins: and, wear a polypropylene face mask when you are cold. The face mask will keep your face and neck warm. The mask solved the nausea for several women with whom I sailed.

[@andrear3325]

Any updates on this since you posted? Something I was recommended and found helpful is eating green apples. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@arottie4097]

I watched your video! I enjoyed your video!!! I did Not Vomit!!! Sooo I subscribed.

[@texling93]

There is a motion sickness relief called Motioneaze. Put a few drops on the backside of your ear. They say it works even after your start to feel sick.....Another name is Divertigo. May be something to try. Good Luck and calm sea's

[@keithlittlebury2986]

Thanks for a very informative and comprehensive video on seasickness which I have suffered badly from in the past. The one thing that helped me most was one visit to an NLP (Neuro linguistic programming) practitioner. She made me associate big seas with pleasant times and it worked. It gave me confidence and reduced the anxiety which is one of the worst elements causing seasickness. I agree with all your other thoughts but never heard of the single ear plugs idea before. 👍

[@venusbeautygirl]

I get it too but I have panic attacks with it and feel like passing out