Sea sickness is also very indiscriminate. On one rough ride out of Hatteras (REALLY rough) even the trip leaders (won't mention any names...) were running aft to pay their respects to Neptune. I was one of maybe ten people who didn't get sick and so got to enjoy a Herald Petrel without having to pay for it over the side!  
 
Now, the Brown Booby I saw from that nasty old tub the Miss Hatteras, that's another story! The one and only time I've been seasick! But worth every minute of agony!  
 
My advice to any prospective pelagic birder is to take saltines along and snack on them liberally, and to stay well hydrated (WATER not soda) before and during the trip. And if Neptune calls for an accounting, make sure to determine from which quarter the wind blows before paying up! 
 
Tom Stock 
Silver Spring, Md.  
 
 
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry 
 
-----Original Message----- 
From: "Gail B. Mackiernan <>" <> 
 
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:56:57  
To: <> 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] motion sickness tablets 
 
 
 Take it from a marine biologist who's had to deal with many seasick students and staff -- ginger works for some folks, but not all -- and once you are sick there is very little that will help. We always recommended the prescription patches for those who got seriously sick, and for those who sometimes just felt queasy, over-the-counter Marazine seemed to be best. 
 
However there is definitely a psychological component to seasickness -- some folks *think* they will get sick and they do -- have even had people get sick just boarding the ship, while it was tied to a dock and perfectly motionless! 
 
The new tablets are worth trying plus all the other recommendations on what to eat and where to sit//stand which were posted recently on this list. 
 
Best, 
Gail Mackiernan 
Silver Spring, MD 
 
-------------- Original message ---------------------- 
From: bachwats <> 
> My brother is an avid birder but he could never do any boating, esp  
> pelagic due 
> to sea-sickness. Then he tried Ginger. He now takes two Ginger capsules  
> with food 
> an hour before departing. He also takes Ginger Beer (available at Whole  
> foods/Co-op) 
> and Ginger chews. No more motion sickness. 
>  
> Gayle Bach-Watson 
><snip>