Author: Simone Perucatti

Seasickness affects roughly one in three people on their first time aboard, and the most frustrating part is that it tends to hit exactly when the view deserves your full attention. The good news? It can be prevented, managed, and in most cases it disappears within a few hours of being at sea. Here is how.

What seasickness actually is

Seasickness — clinically known as motion sickness or marine kinetosis — is a sensory conflict. Your inner ear feels the boat moving, while your eyes often see a relatively static scene (the cabin walls, a book, your phone). The brain receives contradictory signals and reacts with the classic triad: nausea, cold sweat, general malaise. It has nothing to do with being “used to the sea” or with personality. It is pure biology. The reassuring part: your body adapts. Within the first 24-48 hours of sailing, even people who had never set foot on a boat almost always stop suffering from it.

Early symptoms before the nausea hits

Recognising the early signals lets you intervene before things escalate. Watch out for:

• Repeated yawning and sudden tiredness
• Excessive salivation or, conversely, dry mouth
• Mild frontal headache
• Pallor and cold sweat
• A “stomach in your throat” feeling even before full nausea

If even one of these symptoms appears, act immediately: heading up on deck and staring at the horizon is the first intervention, and it is free.

Prevention: what to do before boarding

The golden rule is simple: seasickness needs to be planned for the day before, not when you are already turning green. Here is the routine we recommend to students at our sailing school.

The 24 hours before departure

• Sleep well. Sleep deprivation is one of the most aggressive multipliers of motion sickness.
• Avoid alcohol and fatty foods the night before. No fried food, no excessive beer, no cocktails “because we are on holiday”.
• Stay hydrated. Water, not fizzy drinks.
• If you know you are prone to it, consider a preventive medication taken at least one hour before boarding (see dedicated section).

The day of boarding

A light but nourishing breakfast beats going on board with an empty stomach. Choose crackers, biscotti, banana, light coffee. Avoid acidic fruit juices, large amounts of milk, filled pastries. The principle is simple: your stomach needs something to process, but nothing hard to digest if it starts dancing.

Natural remedies that actually work

Before turning to medication, several strategies significantly reduce the problem. These are not folk tales, they are backed by clinical evidence.

Ginger

It is the most studied and documented natural remedy for motion sickness. It works in any form: candied, in capsules, fresh to chew, as a tea. An effective dose is around 1 gram, taken 30-60 minutes before boarding and repeated every 4 hours if needed. It has no significant side effects for most people.

Anti-nausea wristbands

They apply constant pressure on the P6 (Nei-Kuan) point inside the wrist. Effectiveness varies a lot from person to person — some people swear by them, others get nothing. They cost very little, worth trying before sailing.

Position and gaze

This is the most underrated and most effective strategy:

• Stay on deck, not below. Fresh air and a horizon view zero out the sensory conflict.
• Fix your eyes on the horizon or on a distant point. No books, no phone, no map browsing.
• Position yourself at the stern or amidships: motion is much less pronounced than at the bow.
• If possible, take the helm. Anticipating the boat’s movement with your body is one of the most effective remedies.

Medications: which to use and when

When natural remedies are not enough, several effective over-the-counter medications exist. Important: always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication, especially if you have pre-existing conditions or take other drugs. The classes most commonly used for motion sickness are first-generation antihistamines and transdermal anticholinergic patches. The practical difference between the two families lies in duration of action and side-effect profile — drowsiness is the most common with antihistamines, which is why anyone at the helm should consider timing and dosage carefully. An important note: no medication is fully effective if taken after symptoms appear. Prevention remains the winning strategy.

Already feeling sick? The emergency plan

It happens. Even with the best preparation, seasickness can hit you. Here is the sequence to follow, in order:

1. Get on deck immediately. No cabin, no closed bathroom.
2. Lie down amidships with your eyes closed or fixed on the horizon.
3. Sip small amounts of water. No sparkling water, no sugary drinks.
4. Eat something dry (crackers, breadsticks, plain bread). An empty stomach makes nausea worse.
5. If you need to be sick, do it on the leeward side, never windward, and always keep one hand on the boat.

Based on our experience with hundreds of students every year, 90% of those who feel ill in the first hours are perfectly fine the next day. Hold on, your body adapts faster than you imagine.

When seasickness is a warning sign

In the vast majority of cases, motion sickness is annoying but harmless. However, if symptoms persist for days even after disembarking, if associated with severe vertigo, or if they appear when the boat is not moving, it is worth seeing a doctor. Inner ear conditions can mimic seasickness and need proper assessment. That said: do not let fear of seasickness rob you of the experience of sailing. The sea, once you get over this small initial hurdle, gives back far more than it asks. Specific questions about your upcoming trip with us? Write to info@differentsailing.it and we’ll reply within 24 hours.

Boat camping is one of the freest and most authentic ways to experience the sea. No hotel, no beach club, no booking the sun bed by the pool. Just your boat, a sheltered bay, a different cove every night. Let’s see what it actually is, how it works, and why it is winning back people looking for a more genuine sea experience.

Boat camping: a simple definition

When we talk about boat camping we mean the practice of living aboard a boat for several consecutive days, sleeping on board at anchor or in port, moving from one anchorage to another and managing meals and daily life on board. It is the exact opposite of an “all inclusive” cruise on a ship: no entertainer, no buffet, no identical cabins. You decide where to stop, what to eat, when to wake up. The boat becomes your home, your means of transport and your viewpoint — all at the same time.

Key features

• Sleeping aboard in cabins with bunks or in the saloon
• Self-managed provisions: shopping before departure and cooking on board
• Flexible itinerary, decided day by day based on weather
• Stops in natural anchorages, coves, sheltered bays or small ports
• Crew spirit: everyone helps run the boat

How a typical day unfolds

To really understand boat camping, it is worth describing it concretely. Here is how an average day flows in a format like our weekends or flotilla weeks.

Morning

Natural wake-up around 8-9. Breakfast in the cockpit with calm sea and low sun. Then a quick briefing from the instructor: weather of the day, possible route, alternatives. Around 10 we cast off: someone takes the helm, someone handles the mooring lines, someone preps the sails.

Afternoon

We sail for a few hours — usually 3-5 — to the chosen lunch anchorage. We anchor, the first ones jump in, lunch on board. In the afternoon we can move to a second spot or stay for snorkelling, paddleboarding, reading, resting. Plenty of options, always the crew’s call.

Evening and night

Towards sunset we reach the night port or anchorage. Aperitif in the cockpit, dinner (on board or ashore depending on the route), then evening under the stars. We sleep in the cabins or, in summer, even on deck under a sky that 20 miles offshore is genuinely impressive.

Differences vs traditional charter

Many people confuse boat camping and charter, but they are two different things. Here is the line.

Traditional charter

In a typical charter you rent a boat (with or without skipper) and you run it yourself. Focus is on the holiday product: comfort, “best-of” routes, often marina berths every night. The price covers the boat and little else: everything else is on you.

Boat camping in a learning format

What we offer at Different Sailing is a different formula: offshore sailing course with overnight stay on board. The difference matters and is worth understanding:

• The activity is sport-educational, not touristic: there is always a CSEN sailing instructor on board
• Participants are not passengers but active crew members
• You learn manoeuvres, navigation and life on board while living the sea
• The fee is a training participation fee, not a tourist charge

In practice: “boat camping” is the format — sleeping on board, self-managed provisions, flexible itinerary. “Offshore sailing course” is the legal and operational nature of the activity.

How much boat camping costs

Costs vary a lot based on area, season, type of boat and duration. To give a concrete idea, here are the budget items.

What is included in the fee

• Use of the boat for the entire period
• Professional service of the CSEN instructor
• Third-party and Kasko insurance
• Tender with outboard engine
• Training material

What is NOT included (common pot)

These are the so-called running costs, managed directly by the crew via a common pot:

• Provisions (food and drink shopping for the boat)
• Fuel: about 5 litres/hour of engine, around 10 €/hour
• Port fees (variable, from free to 50-80 € per night in high season)
• Final boat cleaning: 150 € total, split between participants
• Security deposit of 150 € paid at check-in (refundable at the end)
• Bed linen and car parking at the departure port

On a three-day weekend, running costs are typically around 80-100 € per person. On a full week they scale proportionally, with savings on provisions.

Who boat camping is for

Honestly: it is not for everyone. If you expect a four-star hotel level of comfort, you will be disappointed. If you are looking for something different, it is the right format.

It is perfect for you if

• You want to experience the sea, not just “have a beach holiday”
• You appreciate small but lived-in spaces, and sharing does not scare you
• You are curious to learn something new (sailing)
• You really want to disconnect from Wi-Fi, traffic, screens
• You enjoy trips where you meet new people to share intense days with

Maybe not for you if

• You cannot give up absolute privacy
• You are claustrophobic or struggle with tight spaces
• You want a fully passive holiday
• You have serious unmanaged seasickness (though it usually resolves in 24-48 hours)

Where to do boat camping in Italy

Italy is one of the world’s paradises for this format, thanks to varied coasts, islands close to the mainland and predictable weather from May to October. The most popular areas:

• Pontine Islands (Ponza, Palmarola, Ventotene): perfect for weekends and short weeks, starting from Rome or Naples
• Aeolian Islands: a full week between Vulcano, Lipari, Stromboli and the eruption seen from the sea
• North-east Sardinia (La Maddalena, Costa Smeralda): some of the finest anchorages in the Mediterranean
• Tuscany (Elba, Capraia, Giglio): perfect in spring and early autumn
• Ionian Greece: for transparent anchorages and a more relaxed atmosphere

What you actually need to set off

Spoiler: less than you think. Soft duffel bag (rigid suitcases do not fit in the lockers), essential technical clothing, white-soled non-slip shoes, medical certificate of non-competitive sport fitness, ID and the will to disconnect. Everything else, you discover as you go. Boat camping is one of those experiences hard to describe well in an article. You really get it only on the evening of the first stop, when you realise that “home” tonight is anchored in a bay, and tomorrow it will be somewhere else. That kind of freedom. Want to figure out which format suits you best? Write to info@differentsailing.it or come visit us at our office.

A 10-metre sailboat has roughly the living space of a studio flat. Except 6 of you are living in it, sometimes 8, for a weekend or a full week. It works perfectly well, provided you respect a few rules. Some are written, many are not — and the unwritten ones make the difference between a memorable cruise and a tough weekend. Let’s lay them out clearly.

Space on board: understanding it before you step on

The first rule of coexistence starts with understanding where you are. A typical cruising boat in our fleet has 4 cabins, 2 heads, a saloon (the indoor living area with a table), a galley (kitchen) and a cockpit outside. Every square metre is designed to do two or three things at once.

The key areas

• Cockpit: the outdoor “living room”. Where you sail, eat, chat in the evening.
• Saloon: the indoor day area. Table, cushions, seating. Used in bad weather or in the evening.
• Cabins: small. Bunks, a few storage compartments, a reading light. No big wardrobes, no rigid suitcases.
• Heads: usually 1-2 in total. Small, to be used methodically (see below).
• Deck: the “panoramic terrace”. For sunbathing, reading, napping.

The golden rules of coexistence

These always apply, regardless of who shares your cabin or how big the boat is. They are the bare minimum to not ruin your cruise.

1. Everything in its place, always

At home you can leave a t-shirt on the chair for two days. On a boat you cannot. Every object out of place, with a bit of swell, ends up on the floor, under the bench, in someone else’s locker. Always put everything back immediately after use: water bottle, sunglasses, book, towel. Applies to you and to everyone else.

2. A quick shower is an act of respect

Water on board is limited: standard tank is 300-500 litres for 6-8 people, and it has to last to the next refill. Boat shower = wet, water off, soap, water on for 30 seconds to rinse. A 5-minute shower like at home is collective sabotage. For long showers, use the free ones in marinas — that is the norm.

3. The boat head is not a regular toilet

It works with a manual or electric pump. The rule is simple: only what has passed through your body goes into the head. Water-soluble toilet paper (sparingly), no sanitary pads, no tissues, no wet wipes. Everything else goes in the dedicated bin. Annoying? Yes. Essential? Even more so: a clogged pump offshore becomes everyone’s problem.

4. The galley belongs to everyone, not the first to open the fridge

You do the provisioning together before departure (or you decide who takes care of it). Once on board: no “I’m taking this Coke because I bought it”. Everything is everyone’s, until the end of the course. Same with beer: managed in a common pot, not individual portions.

5. Noise is physical violence, at night

On a boat the cabin walls are thin plywood. A normal conversation in the cockpit is heard perfectly in every cabin. After 11 PM you keep your voice down, period. Same in the early morning: whoever wakes up first does not bang in the galley. Phone ringtones too.

Provisions and galley: the heart of the group

Managing the provisions is probably the single aspect that most defines the quality of coexistence. Here is how to make it work.

Before departure

You make the list together, deciding rough menus for each day. Consider:

• Limited fridge space — no minibar, small fridge that cools slowly
• Cooking with 2-3 burners and a small oven, no traditional oven
• Allergies and intolerances of others (ask first)
• Option to dine ashore some evenings (lightens provisions)

During the cruise

Cooking rotas are the way. Typically: a couple or three people handle one meal on rotation. Whoever cooks does not wash up; whoever cooked yesterday rests today. A trivial mechanism that works very well if applied. Letting it slip into chaos means the same person ends up cooking every day, and after two days that person hates everyone.

Rotas and responsibilities while sailing

On a learning cruise like ours, everyone has an active role. You are not a passenger: that is the key difference vs nautical tourism. The CSEN instructor coordinates, but manoeuvres are done by all members on board.

Roles you learn in a few days

• Helm: holds the course following the compass or a landmark
• Trimmer: tunes the sails to the wind
• Bowman: handles the bow manoeuvres (anchor, lines)
• Galley: prepares the meal and keeps provisions tidy
• Watch: in night sailing, scans the horizon and traffic

Roles rotate: everyone touches a bit of everything, and that is the fun part.

The unwritten rules nobody tells you

These you only learn by doing it, and no brochure mentions them. We anticipate them because it is better to know them.

The cabin is private, and is respected

When someone is in a cabin with the door ajar, you knock. If the door is closed, you knock twice. If no one answers, you go. Sounds obvious but with 8 people in 12 metres, respect for private space is the first thing to break.

Your wet clothes are not other people’s problem

Wet swimsuit, damp towels, salt-soaked clothes: they are hung outside, on the lifelines. Never inside. Humidity stagnates in the cabin and after two days the boat smells for everyone.

The “lucky one” with the bigger cabin doesn’t keep it

If the boat has cabins of different sizes, a good crew rotates mid-week, or assigns the bigger cabins to couples. A small kindness that goes a long way.

First on board, last off

Check-in and check-out are collective operations. You arrive together if possible, you leave together. Final cleaning is everyone’s, not just whoever has time because their flight leaves later.

What causes most tension on board (and how to avoid it)

From years of direct observation, the three most frequent sources of tension are always the same:

1. Mooring stress. When it is time to moor with too little or too much wind, voices rise. The advice: silence except for whoever is manoeuvring. Each to their role, minimal and clear communication.
2. Uneven cleanliness levels. Those used to leaving dishes in the sink “for later” and those who wash up immediately do not coexist well. Set the rule on day one and apply it to the end.
3. Different rhythms. Some want to leave at dawn, others at 11. Some want a night out every evening, others want to dine on board and sleep early. No rigid rules, but confront it at the morning briefing: what are we doing today?

The single rule that captures all the others

If you only remember one thing from this article, it is this: a boat works when everyone works for the common good. Everything else is detail. Whoever steps on board with an “I paid, others should serve” mindset ruins the cruise for themselves and for everyone else. On the positive side: days on a boat teach something we have forgotten on land — living with 8 people in a few metres, depending on each other, building something together. A life gym compressed into a few days. Maybe that is why people often come back from a well-run cruise as friends for years. Questions about coexistence on our courses and cruises? Write to info@differentsailing.it, we’ll reply within 24 hours.

“What do I bring on board?” is the number-one question we get in the days before every departure. The short answer: less than you think. The long answer is this checklist, broken down by category, built on years of seeing what people actually use and what comes back home untouched. Save the page, you’ll need it before every embarkation.

The golden rule: soft luggage, always

Before getting into the details, a rule that applies to everyone: soft bags and backpacks only. Rigid suitcases do not fit in cabin lockers, and once on board you have nowhere to stow them. A 60-70 litre soft duffel comfortably covers a week’s cruise. For a weekend it is more than enough. Add a small backpack for shore trips (excursions, dinner ashore, walks in town) and you’re set.

Documents and admin: no boarding without these

Let’s start with the non-negotiable block: if you’re missing one of these documents, boarding does not happen, regardless of how nice you are or how much you’ve paid.

• Valid ID (national ID card or passport)
• Tax code (codice fiscale)
• Health insurance card (tessera sanitaria)
• Medical certificate of non-competitive sport fitness, valid — essential, must be handed in before boarding
• Membership form and adhesion form already signed (we send these via Yousign before departure)
• Receipt of the bank transfer for the training participation fee
• Any travel insurance documents, if you have purchased coverage

Good idea: photograph everything with your phone and keep originals in a waterproof pouch.

Clothing: the “layers” rule

The most common mistake is bringing 14 t-shirts and no windbreaker. At sea, temperature changes fast: you start at 28°C and three hours later, sailing, you’re cool with 20 knots of wind. Logic is “dressing in layers”, like in the mountains.

Essentials (even in summer)

• 1 lightweight waterproof windbreaker (saves your night on a regatta and during sudden storms)
• 1 warm fleece or sweatshirt, even in August (nights at sea are cool)
• 2-3 technical short-sleeve t-shirts (dry fast, don’t smell after a day)
• 1 long-sleeve technical shirt (to cover from sun or evening cool)
• 2 pairs of technical or swim shorts
• 1 pair of light long trousers (for evenings or more formal contexts)
• 2-3 swimsuits (one is always wet)
• Underwear for the cruise days
• 1 cap with visor or wide brim, ideally with a wind cord

For peak summer (July-August)

Even though the season is hot, the wind in the evening while sailing cools things down. A light fleece is not optional. Also consider that with the evening breeze, everyone will be wearing a fleece — so don’t bring just one.

For shoulder seasons (May, June, September)

Add: 1 thermal second layer, 1 pair of waterproof trousers (useful for rain or strong spray), 1 pair of spare warm socks. The difference between a great May cruise and a miserable one is exactly this.

Shoes: the white-sole rule

On a boat, dark soles leave indelible marks on the teak deck. White non-slip soles, always. Two pairs in total are enough:

• 1 pair of closed boat shoes (deck shoes, white-soled sneakers)
• 1 pair of technical sandals or rock-shoes (very useful when stepping ashore from the tender)

Cheap supermarket flip-flops fly off at the first abrupt step and end up in the sea. Invest 20 € in a pair of technical sandals with adjustable straps.

Sun and sea: serious protection, not the lake kind

The sun at sea is double what you get on land: radiated from above and reflected by the water. A burn on day one ruins the next three. So:

• Sunscreen SPF 50 minimum, water resistant, at least 200ml for a week
• Sun stick for lips (they burn easily on a boat)
• Polarised sunglasses with cord — polarised reduces reflections off the water
• 1 snorkelling mask + snorkel (boat gear is usually available, but having your own is more hygienic)
• 1 large microfibre towel (dries in 30 minutes, takes no space)
• 1 traditional bath towel (for sunbathing)

Tech and accessories: what really matters

The temptation is to bring drone, GoPro, laptop, Kindle, wireless headphones. The reality is that on a boat 70% of these stay in the cabin because there’s no time. You need:

• Phone with charger
• 10,000 mAh powerbank (boat sockets are limited, shared between 8 people)
• 1 personal water bottle (cuts plastic waste on board)
• 1 headlamp or LED torch (for cockpit evenings and finding things in the cabin in the dark)
• 1 small personal first-aid kit with plasters, painkillers and your usual medication (the boat has one but that is for emergencies)
• Any seasickness medication you may need, taken preventively

If you’re a photo/video enthusiast

GoPro or action cam with waterproof housing, yes, useful. Drone only if you can fly it in wind with no save point below: typically better to coordinate with the flotilla photographer if there is one. Laptop no, leave it home: Wi-Fi is poor and you have no time to use it.

Personal provisions: small extras

The main provisions we do together before departure. But some items are worth bringing from home, especially if you have specific tastes:

• Your favourite snacks (bars, dried fruit, chocolate)
• Your preferred coffee/tea if you’re “ritual” about morning coffee
• Thermal water bottle if you like cold water on long sails
• Any supplements or multivitamins

What NOT to bring (common mistakes)

This list matters as much as the previous one. These are things we see on board every time, every time go home untouched — or worse, take up space and break.

• Rigid suitcase: doesn’t fit in lockers, we said it
• Tall rubber boots: heavy, bulky, useless on our summer routes
• Hairdryer, straightener, electric appliances: the boat has no continuous 220V for these loads
• More than 2 pairs of shoes: just volume
• “Nice” evening clothes: evenings on board are casual, even at restaurants ashore
• Strong perfumes, spray deodorants: with 8 people in tight quarters, the smell of others is already plenty
• Big knives or multitools: the boat has everything, and at the airport they’re trouble
• More than 1 book: you won’t have time for two, trust us

The summary checklist (printable)

Here’s the condensed version to tick off the night before departure:

• ☐ Soft duffel 60-70 lt + small backpack
• ☐ Documents, medical certificate, receipts
• ☐ Windbreaker + fleece/sweatshirt
• ☐ 3 technical t-shirts + 2 shorts + 1 long trouser
• ☐ 2-3 swimsuits + underwear
• ☐ Cap + polarised sunglasses + cords
• ☐ White-sole shoes + technical sandals
• ☐ Sunscreen 50 + lip stick
• ☐ Mask + microfibre towel
• ☐ Phone, charger, powerbank
• ☐ Headlamp, torch, water bottle
• ☐ Personal first-aid kit + usual medication
• ☐ Seasickness medication if needed

A final note

The most important thing you bring on board isn’t in your bag: it’s your attitude. The boat teaches you to make do with little, to ask when you need, to lend a hand without being asked. If you start with that mood, the light bag becomes the perfect metaphor for the cruise: fewer things, more experience. See you on board. Specific questions about your upcoming trip? Write to info@differentsailing.it.