{"id":162715,"date":"2026-05-01T06:43:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T05:43:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/?p=162715"},"modified":"2026-05-01T06:44:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T05:44:09","slug":"how-i-finally-conquered-a-lifetime-of-seasickness-to-become-a-yacht-skipper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/5-tips\/how-i-finally-conquered-a-lifetime-of-seasickness-to-become-a-yacht-skipper-162715","title":{"rendered":"How I finally conquered a lifetime of seasickness to become a yacht skipper"},"content":"A true seasickness cure has long been hoped for as the debilitating problem has followed sailors for centuries. Charles Darwin gave a warning to any of his readers tempted to romanticise sailing, declaring in The Voyage of the Beagle \u201cif a person suffer much from seasickness, let him weight it heavily in the balance: it is no trifling evil which may be cured within a week.\u201d\r\n\r\nBut while Darwin\u2019s theory of evolution became established science, what causes seasickness still remains fiercely debated. What\u2019s more, nothing invented so far has managed to work universally as an effective seasickness cure \u2013 and drug-based treatments are renowned for their side effects.\r\n\r\nSo even professional sailors learn to live with the debilitating condition rather than overcome it for good. In the Volvo Ocean Race there have been multiple instances of over half a professional crew being unwell at the same time.\r\n\r\nNew Zealand start-up See-Level promises to help sailors overcome symptoms of seasickness by bringing together movement sensor technology and virtual reality.\r\n\r\nFounder Dudley Jackson, originally from the Isle of Wight, started the business after being forced to call off his own circumnavigation plans. \u201cI'd bought the boat, got ready over a number of years and was excited to cross oceans,\u201d he explains. But overcome by seasickness as soon as he was offshore, Dudley returned to New Zealand disappointed, turning to his background in IT to find a solution.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_132363\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]\"\" The headset is totally immersive and has proved effective in testing to date. Photo: Will Bruton[\/caption]\r\n\r\nVirtual reality had an awkward start in the consumer electronics market when it first became available to computer gamers around five years ago, and videos on YouTube show first-timer users crashing into furniture, having lost all sense of spatial awareness outside the headset.\r\n\r\nEven latest generation VR games can be disorientating, and for many people induce motion sickness. But it is this powerful feeling of being somewhere else that Dudley hopes to capitalise on, temporarily extracting the wearer from their real environment.\r\n\r\nJackson was introduced to VR gaming by his son. \u201cI was shocked at how quickly I got motion sickness,\u201d he recalls. But it raised the question: \u201cIf virtual reality can make me sick, could it remove seasickness just as quickly? And the answer is: yes.\u201d\r\n\r\nA virtual reality headset provides 360\u00b0 immersion in a virtual environment, which, combined with sound, effectively seals out the real world. If you haven\u2019t used one before, the experience is both a little strange and impressive. Look up, down or behind you and the world you're immersed in is continuous.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_132367\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]\"\" The user view inside the VR headset, as See-Level recreates a stable horizon.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nSee-Level\u2019s patented offering is two-fold. First, it offers relief to sufferers as soon as they start to feel unwell. Second, it is designed to train users out of a propensity to suffer from seasickness \u2013 something the company calls INT, or Incremental Neurological Training.\r\n\r\nIf the system is a commercial success on larger craft over the next few years, it's likely to come down in price significantly. A small boat version of the system is already available, called the \u2018Companion Edition\u2019, supplied in a waterproof armoured case for easy stowage, but at around \u00a3850 it\u2019s not cheap.\r\n\r\nThe \u2018Yacht Edition\u2019, aimed at commercial sailing operations, comprises two main components: a processing box kept flat inside the boat and a virtual reality headset (several can be connected to the system at once). The headsets are linked wirelessly to the processor unit which requires power from the boat to run.\r\n

Virtual horizon<\/h2>\r\nFor seasickness treatment, See-Level advises that the headset is only used when sitting or lying down. Once the unit is placed over the wearer\u2019s head, they find themselves sitting on a virtual beach looking out to a virtual sea horizon, while a voiceover talks through the program.\r\n\r\nStage one, called \u2018Signal Matching,\u2019 offers relief for most seasickness sufferers within 15 minutes. Once the patient feels better, they can continue for a further 45 minutes with INT.\r\n\r\nSee-Level creates a virtual environment on dry land but uses wireless links to sensors that sit firmly in the real world, using real-time live data on the pitch, roll and heave from the vessel. This data is then used to gradually reintroduce the real-world motion of the boat over time.\r\n\r\nInitially the picture the user sees is level. After 15 minutes the second stage of the simulation gradually reintroduces the yacht\u2019s real-world motion over a period of 45 minutes, so when the headset is taken off, the real motion of the boat has been progressively normalised for the user.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_132362\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]\"\" Sensors feed the See-Level system with data on the yacht\u2019s pitch, heave and roll. Photo: Will Bruton[\/caption]\r\n\r\nDudley Jackson explains that users are encouraged to put the headset on as soon as they feel even slightly unwell for maximum effectiveness. \u201cWhen we ran our first tests in the Southern Ocean on an expedition vessel for two weeks with 50 passengers, they reached for the kit in big seas when food was being served. After a short spell in the virtual world, they were able to eat a full meal.\u201d\r\n\r\nFurther testing has recently been undertaken with whale-watching tour operators, and New Zealand\u2019s Littleton Port Company is installing the system on board its commercial pilot boats.\r\n\r\nThe See-Level\u2019s INT training mode is the more developmental part of the product and is aimed at getting users used to unusual motions while still on land. It\u2019s something that could prove useful for those who find themselves only susceptible to seasickness after a prolonged period ashore.\r\n\r\nWhile the system hasn\u2019t yet been independently tested, the company\u2019s own results claim the device was effective, on average, after seven minutes of use. Most of their testing has been undertaken on voyages from New Zealand\u2019s Cook Strait to Antarctica aboard a small expedition cruise ship, with 85% of those using the headset reporting a reduction in symptoms.\r\n

A true seasickness cure?<\/h2>\r\nProfessor Tom Stoffregen is Director of Affordance Perception-Action Technology at the University of Minnesota and has conducted numerous experiments investigating seasickness. He stresses that many commonly held beliefs about what causes sailors to feel unwell are a confused mix of theories.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe real test for any kind of technology that claims to beat seasickness, or any other relief product for that matter, is whether or not it is any more effective than simply sitting down and closing your eyes; it\u2019s the sensory perception here that\u2019s most crucial to consider.\u201d\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_132365\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]\"\" Professor Tom Stoffregen has conducted experiments on motion sickness. Photo: University of Minnesota[\/caption]\r\n\r\nIn one simple demonstration Stoffregen moves a vertical flat surface quickly towards a person who is standing still on a small platform, stopping short of making contact with them. Most people step backwards off the platform, unable to remain balanced. This experiment demonstrates humans\u2019 poor postural stability; something Stoffregen believes makes us susceptible to seasickness.\r\n\r\nIn a more extensive study Stoffregen measured how subjects stood naturally when they were ashore, gathering data on how much they moved subconsciously while trying to simply stand still.\r\n\r\nThose that stood less static ashore proved more susceptible to nausea and sickness in the days that followed while at sea; suggesting some of us are simply inherently less balanced and so more likely to get seasick.\r\n\r\nProfessor Stoffregen suggests that, as we still don\u2019t fully understand seasickness, it\u2019s best to work with the strongest evidence we have to help ourselves when sailing. \u201cIt\u2019s actually the rise and fall of the ship (rather than pitch or roll) that has the greatest impact on making people feel sick.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe know every movement you make at sea is completely different to that on land, so sitting down will certainly help because immediately you'll have to compensate less.\r\n\r\n\"We also know seasickness almost always goes away in under 96 hours. So, by doing the right things early, sitting on deck with a view of the horizon for a few hours rather than minutes, you'll help your body go through the difficult process of acclimatisation more quickly.\u201d\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n

\"\"<\/a>If you enjoyed this\u2026.<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n
Yachting World is the world's leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams.<\/em><\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers<\/a> and save at least 30% off the cover price.<\/em><\/div><\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n
","excerpt":{"rendered":"

Seasickness is surprisingly common \u2013 around one in three people are estimated to suffer from it, including long-term cruisers and even professional sailors. While numerous remedies and medications offer temporary relief, they often fail to address the root causes. Norwegian psychologist Thomas Bickhardt believes that understanding and mitigating seasickness involves complex interactions between perception, the nervous system, and individual experiences. He spent 30 years researching with professional seafarers on Norway\u2019s harsh west coast to understand the phenomenon. Bickhardt founded the \u2018TilliT\u2019 Institute in 2022 and now teaches a new approach to overcoming seasickness, known as the TilliT method. An unsolvable problem From my very first sailing experience I loved being at sea \u2013 the sun on my face, the wind in my hair, and the disconnect from everyday life. But seasickness was my constant companion from the outset. I experimented with various medications and home remedies, and sought advice from every sailor I encountered. The old seafarers\u2019 adage that seasickness subsides after a few days simply didn\u2019t hold true for me. As I sailed more, I meticulously observed my triggers, considered hull shapes and sizes, scrutinised weather forecasts and routes. Some strategies provided temporary relief, but I never fully overcame the issue. I adapted by structuring my onboard routine to minimise time spent below deck. Every trip to the heads, every meal, every course change was precisely timed. Unexpected changes in conditions were difficult to manage. My skippers and crew were always aware of the risk and supported me when I became incapacitated. But despite their support, I often felt like a burden. My inability to resolve this issue was deeply frustrating and draining. Nervous confusion Our nervous system relies on multiple sources of information to maintain balance. It receives input from the vestibular system \u2013 the inner ear and body receptors \u2013 that perceive orientation and movement. Visual information also plays a crucial role. Experiences build perception: when our eyes see a room with straight lines \u2013 doors, windows, furniture \u2013 the brain assumes we are in a stationary building. When these signals to our brain are conflicting \u2013 for example, below deck on a moving yacht \u2013 the nervous system will react. The eyes signal a stable environment, while the vestibular system detects motion. This discrepancy triggers a survival mode leading to seasickness symptoms in some sufferers. Article continues below… The TilliT Method When I first learned about the TilliT method I was sceptical, but at that point I was desperate for a solution. I had planned a solo circumnavigation of the Baltic Sea the following summer and was willing to try anything in preparation.The TilliT method firstly teaches sufferers how to maintain balance without relying on the visual system \u2013 or in other words, your eyes. This is taught through practical exercises, and is designed to eliminate conflicting signals and therefore prevent symptoms. Secondly, participants need to understand how their personal experience of seasickness can trigger a trauma response \u2013 even once the practical exercises have been …Continue reading »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":447,"featured_media":162720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3117,546],"tags":[3116,1633],"review_manufacturer":[],"acf":[],"introduction":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162715"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/447"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162715"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":162726,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162715\/revisions\/162726"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162715"},{"taxonomy":"review_manufacturer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review_manufacturer?post=162715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}