How to Avoid Seasickness While Sailing: Ditching Dramamine

In short

When we started sailing in 2015 I was very seasick, so I took Dramamine every time we sailed. It made me lethargic, and on my first night sail I was falling asleep at the helm. A fellow cruiser, Fabio, convinced me to try without it, and our 24-hour passage from Turks and Caicos to the Dominican Republic went fine. Trusting our boat eased my anxiety. For rough passages, Stugeron (cinnarizine) now works for me.

When we began cruising, I had no idea how to avoid seasickness while sailing. I relied on Dramamine every time we left the dock.

I learned the extent of my seasickness the hard way, after we had bought a sailboat and rented our home.

After sailing to more than 40 countries, I am still circumnavigating.

In 11 years at sea, I have gained perspective, insight, confidence and I am happy to share with you how I avoid seasickness while sailing.

Why I Took Dramamine Every Time We Sailed

Since we left Ottawa, I have been taking at least a half tablet of Dramamine every time we have sailed. The adult dosage is 1-2 tablets per day. My kids have been less affected by seasickness. My husband, Rick, has never shown signs of seasickness. He shaves with a machete.

When we started sailing our boat in August 2015 I was very seasick. On the water, it was all I could do to feed my family. At times, they ate carrots in place of meals because it was all I could manage. With Dramamine I could function. My family ate well. But, I did feel lethargic.

When Dramamine Became a Sailing Safety Problem

But, a few days ago, on my first night sail, I was falling asleep at the helm. I wanted to fully participate in the night sail but could barely manage a 2-hour night shift without having to wake up Rick, for the sake of safety. This was leaving him tired and basically single handed.

My decision to stop taking Dramamine stemmed from a conversation with another cruiser, named Fabio. We met him in Turks and Caicos. He, too, is headed for Luperon, Dominican Republic. I mentioned to him that Dramamine knocked me out.

Fabio told us that he used to run regattas and that he would not allow people to take Dramamine. He preferred that the regatta participants were seasick rather than doped-up on Dramamine.

My First Sail Without Seasickness Medication

So for the first time I sailed without taking seasickness medication. I was fine. I was able to take the night shift, and it fully registered when other boats flickered in the distance.

Our trip from Turks and Caicos to the Dominican Republic took 24 hours. It was non-stop and involved night watches and sleep deprivation. But, for the first time in 10 months, our trip did not include Dramamine. And, no one felt seasick.

Do Sailors Eventually Get Their Sea Legs?

In the Bahamas, I met a woman who said that she used to get seasick in her own bathtub. Now, she is a world traveller on a South African boat, called SV Alley Cat.

Likewise, in her book, “The Voyage of the Northern Magic: A Family Odyssey,” Diane Stuemer describes early days where her family felt seasick. They got their sea legs and circumnavigated.

It’s probably too soon to say that I have outgrown seasickness. But, I feel that I’m on my way to sailing without medication.

I will keep our ample supply of Dramamine on hand just in case. But for now, it’s slated for visitors.

Currently, we are anchored at Cabo Isabela, Dominican Republic (DR). It is very green and mountainous here.

Here’s a picture of me and Betty, taken this morning, with the mountainous northern DR coastline in the background.

We haven’t yet been ashore. We are still flying our yellow quarantine flag until we meet with DR officials.

How to Avoid Seasickness While Sailing: What Worked for Me

In hindsight, I think my seasickness was exacerbated by the anxiety that spawned from the huge financial commitment we had made buying a boat only for me to discover that sailing actually made me feel really ill. With our house rented and most of our belongings sold, I worried very much that I might never overcome my seasickness. And, the worry had me vomitting.

But I really wanted this to work. When I began to understand and trust our boat, and recognized some of the sounds as lines tightened under load, I began to relax. In turn, I became less seasick, and less reliant on medication.

Now that our family has sailed a little over half-way around the world, I would still consider myself sensitive to rough weather.

In the early days, I tried scopolamine, ginger, Dramamine and Meclizine.

Finally, I found the medication that works for me; if we anticipate a rough passage, I take Stugeron (Cinnarzine). This medication is not available in every country. For example, I don’t think you can buy it in Canada or the USA. We bought Sturgeron Forte (75 mg) in the Domican Republic and replaced our supply in Panama and in Malaysia.

Next chapter: The Caribbean →Luperón Long Reads — Waiting Out Hurricane Season

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