Seasickness is the reason more people do not book a yacht charter than any other, and the reason is mostly wrong. A Mediterranean charter in summer spends most of its time at anchor or in flat water, moves for two or three hours a day, and can be planned so that the sensitive member of the crew barely notices. The people who suffer are usually the ones who did nothing in advance.
What causes it
Motion sickness is a mismatch: the inner ear feels movement that the eyes, looking at a cabin wall or a phone, do not see. The brain treats the conflict as a warning sign and responds with nausea. That is why the worst places on a boat are below deck, facing backwards, or reading, and the best is the helm, where the eyes and the ear agree.
It is also why it fades. Almost everyone acclimatises within a day or two, which is one argument for a gentle first day.
Before the trip
Medication. The over-the-counter antihistamines sold for travel sickness work for most people if taken before the motion starts, not after. The usual advice is a dose the night before the first sail and another an hour before leaving harbour. They cause drowsiness in some people; try one at home first. Prescription patches worn behind the ear are stronger and last longer, and are worth discussing with a doctor for anyone who has been badly seasick before.
The boat. A catamaran does not heel and rolls less at anchor. A larger, heavier monohull moves less than a small one. For a crew with a known sufferer, this is the strongest single lever.
The area. Sheltered waters, short passages and afternoon breezes rather than ocean swell: the Ionian, the Saronic Gulf, the Turkish bays and the inner Croatian islands are the gentle choices. The open Cyclades in a meltemi are not.
The route. Ask the skipper, or plan yourself, for a short first day and passages in the morning before the wind and sea build. Overnight passages are for delivery crews, not holidays.
On the day
- Eat a light breakfast. An empty stomach is worse than a full one, and greasy food is worse than either.
- Stay on deck, in the fresh air, in the middle or the back of the boat where the motion is least.
- Look at the horizon or the land, not at the water beside the boat and not at a screen.
- Take the helm. Steering is the single most effective cure because it forces the eyes and the body to agree; skippers hand the wheel to green-looking guests for exactly this reason.
- Avoid going below to fetch things. Have what you need in the cockpit before leaving.
- Ginger, in whatever form, helps some people and harms nobody. Acupressure bands are inexpensive and, for a minority, effective.
- Alcohol the night before makes everything worse.
Once it starts
The early signs are yawning, cold sweat, a headache and going quiet. At that point the remedies above still work, and the skipper can ease the motion by changing course or reducing sail. If it goes further, the sufferer should sit on the leeward side, near the back, with something to hold, and be given water. It passes quickly once the boat is in flat water, which in a well-planned week is never more than an hour or two away.
Children are affected like adults, get over it faster, and are distracted more easily; a job at the wheel or spotting for dolphins works better than sympathy.
At anchor
A rolly anchorage at night is the other cause of misery, and it is avoidable: the skipper chooses bays with shelter from the swell rather than the wind, or moves if the roll sets in. A catamaran is far better here than a monohull. In a marina or on a quay the boat does not move at all.
The honest summary
A sensitive crew member on a catamaran, in a sheltered area, with medication taken in advance and a skipper who plans short morning passages, will almost certainly enjoy the week. The same person on a small monohull crossing the Aegean in August without preparation will not. The difference is planning, not luck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get seasick on a yacht charter?
Probably not. Mediterranean charters spend most of the day at anchor or in sheltered water, and sensitivity fades within a day or two.
What is the best seasickness medication for sailing?
Over-the-counter travel antihistamines taken before departure work for most people; patches are stronger for known sufferers. Test at home first.
Are catamarans better for seasickness?
Yes. They do not heel and roll less at anchor, which makes them the standard recommendation for sensitive crews.
What should I do if someone is seasick on board?
Get them on deck, looking at the horizon, ideally at the helm. Reduce the motion, give water, and head for flat water.