You spend the first few hours terrified that you might die and the next few hours wishing you would!

Seasickness is caused by the inner ear mechanism that tells you which way up you are being in conflict with what your eyes are telling you.  This is why looking at the horizon usually works, as it allows your brain to work out what's going on from a fixed visual reference.  This is one reason why anyone who feels a bout of “mal-de-mer” coming on should quickly get himself or herself into the cockpit.  If you have to stay below, then stay horizontal, in your bunk with your eyes closed so there is no conflicting visual input (never try reading).  The good news is that most people recover on a passage because the brain learns to ignore the unwanted signal in the same way that it learns to ignore things like traffic noise that are always there.

Take seasickness seriously, it can lead to dehydration and hypothermia and makes people careless of their own safety, so making them much more likely to fall over-board. If it affects the entire crew the boat is very much in danger.  If you have never been sick yourself, you’re very lucky but try to appreciate what the crew is going through, you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy.

Symptoms may creep up gradually, often signified by yawning and quietness. If it does set in with a vengeance, then be careful about making the individual stay on deck. They can become lethargic and unaware of what's going on, inviting a crack on the head from the boom, or even hypothermia if it's cold. If they do go below make sure they lie down and try to make sure they have a large receptacle handy!

Electric shock treatment (Relief Band):  They look like and are worn like a watch on the underside of the wrist; they emit gentle electrical signals that interfere with the nerve activity that causes nausea. This stimulation blocks nausea/vomiting messages between the brain and stomach. ReliefBand is a drug free solution, working on an acupressure point. This clinical product from the US was designed to relieve the nausea that comes with morning sickness and during chemotherapy. It also relieves all kinds of motion sickness including sea-sickness. What's more, you need not wear it all the time, just put it on when you start to feel sick and within 15 to 20 minutes you will feel the benefit. The scientific research indicates that more than 90% of users experienced a relief in their motion sickness. They are not cheap and can cost anything up to £80.  An alternative is the Force 4 Seabands which work for some and only cost around £5.

Drugs:   Stugeron (cinnarizine) is one of the most widely available drugs that some people swear by, although it doesn't work for everyone.  Beware of Stugeron tablets available abroad as they may give a much larger dose (up to 75mg) than the UK 'over the counter' tablets which are 15mg and should have "S/15" stamped on them if you need to check.  Most drugs for seasickness are antihistamines, and may cause drowsiness.  Do read the instructions if using as they won't work unless taken in the prescribed quantities at the prescribed times. Some may need to be taken well in advance, so don't wait until you are on board before reading the instructions.   Skin Patches (Scopoderm TTS) are an alternative to taking tablets and are worn behind the ear.

Food:  Avoid fatty foods for a good 12 hours before, and during sailing.  Sadly, this also means laying off the bacon sandwiches.   Make sure that there is a steady supply of non-fatty food handy in the cockpit to stop hunger setting in.  Yoghurts, apples, muesli bars and bread are all good but best of all is hot food.  If setting off for a passage of 12 hours or more or doing a long night watch, prepare a big thermos flask of hot soup beforehand and preferably also a separate one with tea.  Cooking down below in a small boat with a lively motion is not a good idea if you are beginning to feel queasy.

Water:  Drink a small amount of water regularly so as not to allow yourself to become dehydrated. Don't drink large amounts or the weight in your stomach may make you feel a little uncomfortable. 

Diesel:  Diesel fumes are notorious for making you feel sick.  Try to keep the bilges smelling sweet at all times since being down below in a boat that smells of diesel is awful if you are feeling unwell.  Likewise you should also avoid exhaust fumes. 

Rest:  If you set off for a longish trip when you’re tired, your brain will become befuddled quickly and you will become sick much quicker.  Later on you'll get tired anyway, but don't start off like that during the ‘getting your sea legs’ phase at the beginning.  If sailing through the night, make sure that everyone is in his or her bunk except whoever is on watch.  A common mistake if doing say a 24-hour passage is for everyone to sit in the cockpit during the day.  It is a good idea to keep the watch system going day and night to maximise resting time. 

Clothing:  Don't let yourself get wet and cold.  Make sure that a good supply of warm clothing can be reached from the cockpit. 

Traditional/Folk Remedies:  Why not try the traditional remedy of ginger, like Nelson?  The Chinese have used it for thousands of years.  Ginger biscuits are great to munch on.  Some people like ginger or lime flavoured drinks, and these can also be used as a mouth rinse after being sick.  Some people find special wristbands that exert gentle pressure on a specific acupressure point on the underside of each wrist are effective, and there is certainly no harm in keeping a pair of these in the chart table.  Fancier ones use a magnet to apply the pressure.  You could also try applying pressure to the appropriate spot manually. 

It Will Get Better:  Things will improve.   If you're on the boat for a few days/weeks/frequently then you'll become more accustomed to the motion and hence less vulnerable.  Try spending more time at anchor rather than in a marina.  The rolling motion may help you to get your sea legs while you're asleep.  Try to avoid doing a lumpy wind-over-tide passage as your first of the season.  If possible arrive on the boat a day or two before starting a cruise, giving you time to acclimatise and provision. 

Heaving To: If things get on top of you consider heaving to for a while.  The motion will suddenly become bearable.  Put the kettle on, make hot food, use the heads, take reefs in, deal with any problem that are causing you anxiety.  Carry on when you're ready.  Driving blindly on with the feeling that things are out of control causes stress that will bring on sickness. 

Be Prepared:  Being prepared.  Reading below is one of the worst things that can bring it on. Navigation has to be done, but in some ways you can minimise the burden.  Make sure you have the relevant charts ready and open in the right place before you set off, pencil, parallel rulers etc. ready to hand.  You might want to keep the logbook and pencil next to the companionway so they can be filled in from the cockpit.  Paper Navtex beats electronic read out because you can tear it off and read it in the cockpit rather than fiddling with buttons below.  Make sure that everything that you are going to need is in a handy place in the cockpit to hand before setting off, to minimise scrabbling around in lockers below: hand bearing compass, torch, lifelines and lifejackets, oilies, food etc. etc. 

Keep People Busy:  One of the best things you can do with a crew member who is starting to feel sick is to put them on the helm.  They have to concentrate, they are focussed on the horizon and they are getting plenty of fresh air. 

If all Else Fails:  If the above doesn't help, either chunder with a smile or take up golf ...!