Do You Get Seasick? What It’s Really Like Living on a Boat

“Do you get seasick?”

Well, the question people always ask when you tell them you live on a boat… and I think it’s time to answer it! I mean, if you live on a boat and get sick all the time, then how can that be enjoyable? Let me explain.

Why Do You Get Seasick?

SO what actually happens when you get seasick?? Like, what is happening as you start to feel queasy?

Well, it’s pretty simple, yet so very uncomfortable. Basically: your balance system is telling your brain the boat is moving, your eyes are saying the walls are still upright so nothing is moving, and your body is also sending information about your posture and gravity.

All of these signals don’t quite match up, and your brain basically goes, “Wait… what is happening here?” Cue the nausea, dizziness, sweating and, sometimes, throwing up.

Right, now you understand what’s happening…

Levels of Seasickness

For those that don’t know, there are a few levels of seasickness, at least, as I see it.

Level One: You feel queasy, are tired, and try to stay comfortable. You have to see the horizon and be in the fresh air.

Level Two: Your stomach is churning, you don’t want to eat anything, and you’re not moving from the place you’ve been for the last hour.

Level Three: Not talking to anyone, have a bowl/bucket nearby, lying flat, likely have thrown up several times, and all you want to do is make it stop and fall asleep.

How’d I do? If you look it up, there are actual tells to find out which level you’re in.

It really depends on how your balance system reacts and what your brain makes of it. Oh, and genetics also play a role in how susceptible you are to motion sickness, so some people are simply more affected than others. You can also become more used to motion over time, which is probably why some people who spend a lot of time on boats seem to handle it better.

Who Gets Seasick on Our Boat?

Now, the answer to your question: do you get seasick, and who?

Shona: I do, but I’d rate myself at Level Two if it’s rough and Level One most of the time. This means I spend the days at the helm. If I’m not up there, I’ll be lying down on the couch or in bed. Yes, this means showering time is limited to good conditions.

Kris: He really doesn’t get seasick. I’ve never seen him throw up at sea. But he will reach Level One if it’s really rough and he smells something strong (like washing powder or passionfruit).

Bella: She also does well and will often be doing a workout while I’m at the helm trying to settle my stomach. Though she will come unstuck every now and then if she hasn’t eaten enough or is tired.

Finn: I’d say he spends most of the time in the clear, but as soon as it gets too bumpy, he graduates to Level One and won’t move from his corner of the couch unless there’s something to eat.

Archie: Okay, here’s our winner. The guy never feels bad and can be chatting away perfectly fine while everyone else is down and out. It’s both impressive and slightly annoying, haha.

Pippi: Pip is probably the most seasick after me, but only when it’s rough, and she tends to be great at recovering by eating something and then sleeping it off.

So there you have it. Most of us get queasy in rough conditions, I have to stay at the helm the whole time, and Archie has iron balance or something.

Different Boat Types & Seasickness

Something that needs to be mentioned here is how different boat types can affect whether or not you get seasick.

We’ve lived and sailed on both a monohull and a catamaran over the years and wow, the difference for those that get seasick is huge.

On our monohull, I would almost always feel yuck at sea, have to stare at the horizon, and would throw up often. When we moved onto the catamaran, it was like this whole new world of sailing — I could walk without leaning over, I could go down to the bathroom without throwing up, and it was amazing.

That said, it’s not just about whether you’re on a monohull or catamaran. The size and design of the boat, where you are on the boat, the direction of the waves and the conditions all make a difference to how much movement you feel.

In general, a bigger boat may feel less affected by the same conditions than a smaller one, simply because it has more mass and tends to move differently through the waves. But it’s not quite as simple as saying a bigger boat = less seasickness.

For example, if you compare an 80ft monohull to a 40ft catamaran, I wouldn’t automatically assume the catamaran will feel better. The mono might lean more, but the catamaran can have a completely different type of movement. It really comes down to the boat, the conditions and, of course, the person experiencing it.

For me, though, moving from a monohull to a catamaran made a HUGE difference. I went from feeling sick pretty much every time we had rough conditions to being able to walk around, go to the bathroom and actually enjoy being at sea. And for someone who gets seasick, that feels pretty life-changing!

Conditions & Seasickness

I’ve been saying we don’t feel good when it’s rough, but you’re probably wondering what our classification of rough is.

It’s different for everyone — where you’ve sailed, the conditions you’ve been out in, and other things — all these things shape your definition of rough.

For us, a rough day could look like this: 2+ metres of swell on the beam with 20+ kts of wind. This would be pretty uncomfortable for us and we’d all be trying our best to stay comfy.

What would a good day look like? Less than 2m of swell from behind, 14kts off the port quarter with a spinnaker up.

Trust me, this feels like you might as well not be moving and is glorious when it happens.

Around the world, you see so many different conditions and it all makes you appreciate a good day at sea — when you’re not holding the contents of your stomach in!

Small Things That Make a Difference

Here are a few tips and tricks that have helped us at sea:

• Eat often and have easy plain snacks on hand (like crackers) - a stomach that has food in it is generally more settled.
• Sitting facing forward helps.
• Getting fresh air and looking at the horizon.
• Sleeping/laying down reduces the sensation.
• Hydration is also very important, keep up the electrolytes.
  

Mindset can also help... sometimes we have a feeling of 'not being in control' or we are stressed about the weather conditions this can actually accentuate the sickness so reminding yourself that you are safe can help. Find a good self talk line you can use to create a positive internal dialogue each time you need it. Something like 'I am a sailor' 'I'm confident in my boat and my ability' 'One mile at a time, we will get through this' all helps. 

Summary: So, Do You Get Seasick?

I hope I’ve answered the question of ‘do you get seasick’ pretty well and maybe even helped you understand it a little better.

Usually, we split our crew in half — half of us will feel okay while the other half is feeling pretty rubbish. Anyone care to guess who might be on the not-so-good side?

All jokes aside, it sucks when you’re seasick and we do everything we can to keep our crew comfortable and well whenever we’re at sea.

We’ve seen different approaches to the seasick issue — sometimes the mum and kids will fly to the next destination while the dad takes the boat, sometimes they take seasick medication or use the patch (scopolamine), and sometimes they just do their best to tough it out.

One last note: kids tend to become less susceptible to seasickness as they grow up. Motion sickness is actually more common during childhood, with susceptibility generally peaking somewhere around the 7–12 age range before declining through the teenage years and into adulthood. And I do think growing up on a boat probably helps too — the more you're exposed to a particular type of motion, the more your body can get used to it. It’s amazing how much they adapt.

I would absolutely love to know your thoughts on this subject and whether or not you get seasick yourself! Please comment and let us know.