Sea sickness expected (1 Viewer)

[PCB]

Hi all, together with friends we may be planning to use the ferry to spain, perhaps end of Jan / early Feb,
knowing the bay can be rough this time of year, and suffer terribly with sickness to the extent I may not be well enough to drive far once off the ferry, so the question is what foolproof meds or wrist bands can you recomend.

 

[Riverbankannie]

I used to take over the counter pills but seem to have "grown" out of the problem in recent years. The only thing is, to work effectively you need to take first one hours before. So when using Portsmouth ferries I would take one before leaving home in Bristol. Unfortunately you cannot drive with them as they make you sleepy. I would sleep all the way from home!
Do you have another driver?

 

[peterc10]

The only truly foolproof method that time of year is to use the tunnel and drive through France.

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[laird of Dunstan]

When on board ,avoid being indoors as much as possible ,if you can keep your eyes fixed on the horizon,that can take away the nausia ,another sailors trick is root ginger

 

[PCB]

unfortunately my wife doesn't drive the m/home, and what makes the sickness worse is I am a very light sleeper which means I most probably not sleep through the 24 hrs crossing.

 

[Nirvanauk]

WE use wrist bands and they do the job for us.

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[PCB]

If I can persuade our friends in the 2nd van to do the tunnel, would be best plan.

 

[busby]

I used to get travel sick years ago,,i then realised i was talking myself into it. Since then i always think positive and have never been sick since. Don't worry about crossing as out of a over 14 crossings i have only had one rough one,,,,BUSBY,,

 

[PCB]

what make of bands and where from??

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[TUCANO]

Sorry I can't help but would it perhaps be best to find a site as near to the port as possible, even wilding, and get your needed sleep as soon as possible when you arrive.
Norman.

 

[mikebeaches]

See if you can arrange to travel on the largest (and flagship) ferry - the Pont Aven. And a cabin near the middle, rather than back or front. I think it's main route is from Plymouth to Santander, but you'll need to check and do some research, because it's not the only ship on that route.

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/fleet/cruise-ferries/pont-aven

Avoid fatty foods before and during the journey.

We crossed from Plymouth in a Force 8 a couple of years ago and just went to bed early, but I didn't bother with medication. SWMBO took Kwells, or something similar - we were both fine. Must admit, didn't fancy dinner in the restaurant though...

 

[MikeD]

I am not the greatest sailor either and don't really look forward to our March crossing every year.

But I find the channel bit will be ok, never had a up and downer there, we usually eat around 6.00pm.

But once you are past the tip of France it does go Up and Down a bit.

But it will be bed time then - or nearly if you take a afternoon crossing - and when I am in bed the sea sick bit seems to ease a lot.

On entering the harbour I always find the symptoms disappear very quickly and as it will be approaching an hour from entering harbour to actually driving off I am usually back to full health.

We stay fairly locally first night and I can usually make the local bar with enthusiasm by 6.00pm.

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[Dogeared]

After over seventeen years of on small boats, you can be sick even on a long swell. Funnily I was never sick in really bad weather. I used a number of tactics. Always keep packets of rich tea biscuits to hand. Kind to the stomach, gives it a lining, them even if sick, you don't bring the lining of your stomach up. I swear by ginger biscuits, ginger is brilliant for settling queasy stomachs. If you feel rough, either settle down and try and sleep. Fresh air works for some, but if you are up and about, and are sick make sure that you eat some rich tea biscuits.

Most of all manage your sea sickness, it can be beaten, do not follow the horizon, or try reading.

Have a good trip.

I have been sick in a force two, and loved a force 9 or 10.

The Bay can be either flat calm or a pig at any time of the year, go for it.

 

[pappajohn]

Try to stay as central as possible on the ferry.
Centralised Front to back and side to side will reduce to a minimum any sensation of rolling and pitching.
Learnt this trick on an isle of man ferry in a force 8 back in early 70s.
Felt like only one end of the boat was touching water at any time.

 

[Mikeco]

We always book on the largest boat which is the Pont Aven, look on your emailed booking and see which cabin you have been given, then look on the deck plan from the website and see where it is. If it's not somewhere in the middle and low down then phone them and get it changed.

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[TheTwoOfUs]

As someone who has been sick on a pedalo in 18" of water in the Med (I'm not joking) I find the only real solution is to go to bed and lie down as soon as I feel the onset of nausea.

 

[makems]

We have done the trip many times, usially on the Cap Finistere.
Our usual method is to stop on the dockside overnight so we dont have to drive in the morning amd take our sea sickness tablets at breakfast before we check in and ages before you get out past the Isle of Wight.
The tablets work very well.
As others have suggested, if you make your reservation by phone, try and get a cabin on the lowest deck possible, as close to the centre of the ship fore and aft and side to side. An outside cabin is no good if you suffer from sea sickness.
We rarely emerge from our cabin, taking the opportunity to really catch up on sleep, if the sea gets rough, the best place is lying flat on your bunk.
Of the many crossings we have done (always outward bound early January) we have only had one really bad crossing and one moderately rough so dont worry too much.
Dont leave it too late to book your crossing, the cheaper cabins always book up early.
I have sent you a personal message (check conversations) on how to get a discount.

 

[The Dudess]

I have sent you a personal message (check conversations) on how to get a discount.

Would it be really cheeky to ask you to let us know also. We are in Spain now but planning to get the ferry back in a couple of weeks. Thanks.

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[Geejay]

Happy to help.

 

[Zigisla]

If you cannot be outside for the whole journey, try laying down athwart ships. This mean across the vessel rather that fore and aft. Rocking motion is far more tolerable than pitching up and down.

 

[PCB]

Many thanks for all the advice, Q. to Makems, what tablets do you use?
and when you say stay overnight on the dockside, is this in a que for the ferry, or way before entrance to ferry port?

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[MattR]

I use wrist bands (no idea of the brand; they appear to be very similar & put plasters behind my ears. Both work and seem to compliment each other.

This image shows the application of plasters but if you cut a standard fabric plaster into 4 a and use as positioned below.

 

[pappajohn]

Shirls going on a whale watching and fjord boat trip early tomorrow....but tonight they can't stand up in the wind, keep getting blown over if they don't hang on to something.
All Norwegian shops are closed on Sunday so can't even get any seasick pills.
God help here and just glad I aren't going.

 

[Chris]

I have done the Spain ferry about 10 times I would think and only once have I felt a bit sick.

I don't know if I am a good sailor or not, I think it's just mainly been calm.

My tip would be to avoid the Cap Finistere because it a crap ship and stick to the Pont Aven

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[MikeD]

Many thanks for all the advice, Q. to Makems, what tablets do you use?
and when you say stay overnight on the dockside, is this in a que for the ferry, or way before entrance to ferry port?

I understand you park in the queue for the ferry. I suspect you will be first in the queue.

 

[Geejay]

My tip would be to avoid the Cap Finistere because it a crap ship and stick to the Pont Aven

I've been on the CF several times (as well as the Pont) and imho it's fine, a good restaurant and pet-friendly cabins. Also, the BF Enthusiasts Forum, who have experience of BF ferries probably running into the thousands of trips, say that the CF is the better "sea keeping" boat in rough seas.

 

[Geejay]

I understand you park in the queue for the ferry. I suspect you will be first in the queue.

You can only park in the queue overnight if your ferry is the first in the morning. When we did that there were lots of others there too. Another good place for an overnight is Port Solent Marina which has a lot of parking space.

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[pappajohn]

Shirls going on a whale watching and fjord boat trip early tomorrow....but tonight they can't stand up in the wind, keep getting blown over if they don't hang on to something.
All Norwegian shops are closed on Sunday so can't even get any seasick pills.
God help here and just glad I aren't going.

On this little thing....
Can't be safe !

 

[faraway]

I am very prone to travel sickness and about two years ago I used ferries to and between the Outer Hebrides islands. I used http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Adult-Travel-Bands-1-Pair-12-years-_1121524/ and also tried to sit where I was not cramped and kept my eyes on the horizon as far as possible. Don't read etc. Worked like a charm and on the first 4 hour crossing I did not feel sick at all. Good luck!

 

[Debs]

Another one here who gets really seasick but I am ok if I sit outside, no matter how rough it gets.

When we did the overnight from Hull it was really rough & took Kwells & was amazed they worked. I could sit inside , walk around & had the meals. I even managed to sleep.

Best of luck

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