odd sensation after trip in the dark

Poly · 23 September 2009, 14:24

This week Mrs P and myself were out in the boat after it got dark. The water was fairly flat (our wake was bigger than any waves). We were only out for about 1/2 an hour - this was out first trip out in darkness, so a bit of an experiment. After we returned to shore she complained of feeling "wobbly".

I think she was experiencing the same rocking sensation that I have had after being on a sailing boat for a few days (I'm not sure exactly what causes it - but I thought it was your brain/middle ear got so used to dealing with the rocking boat that it was still compensating when you got on dry land). Has anyone else experienced this after being out at night? i.e. does the darkness (difficulty in percieving waves/horizon) amplify the effect?

Before anyone asks - no alcohol had been consumed.

PeterM · 23 September 2009, 14:51

I get this all the time after a day on the boat ( dark or not ) - I think it is due to the brain 'expecting' to still feel the motion - so even though your ears & eyes are saying one thing your bran ignores them for a while until it actually realises it/ you are not moving.

I often get in , shower & then 'sway' infront of the mirror without realising ! ( ok ready for any joke......)

Possibly worse after dark as your eyes aren't seeing a horizon to allow your brain to understand whats going on.

Its like flying a plane with no horizon - you will feel as if you are turning/ banking etc - but in reality you have way of telling as you rely so heavily on your eyes to give you the info- without a referance they are effectivly just trying to confuse you.

JSP · 23 September 2009, 15:46

I get the same if I'm below deck for some time. I think it's when you can't get a bearing of where you are such as in the dark or inside a boat. I always know to keep looking out of a window if I can to see the horizon or I know I'm gonna be ill.

Edit

idn't read blackroady's post first....So same as the above.

Leapy · 23 September 2009, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

I get the same if I'm below deck for some time.

Jeez

You've got a below deck and windows in your SR?

How many berths?

JSP · 23 September 2009, 16:05

V birth, starboard double berth with heads, galley with heads, saloon and flybridge.... Trouble is it's my dads. My SR has birth's...or it will have as I've told the wife the next baby has to be born on deck

chewy · 23 September 2009, 16:05

I used to get it when I first started messing about on boats but don't "suffer" from it now. I know my Dad does when we take his boat out.
Wouldn't worry about it to be honest.

PeterM · 23 September 2009, 16:39

I think some people are affected & others aren't - Its not like sea-sickness - just a feeling of still moving around.

I get very sea-sick on bigger boats & anything going slowly - ie yachts under motor. Sailing I'm fine.

Even get sea-sick on RIBS at trolling speed in bad weather !

jyasaki · 23 September 2009, 16:40

Sea legs.

I get it almost every time after being on 3-day liveaboard dive trips; occasionally after day trips on my boat in rolling seas (not so much in what you'd call rough weather, as far as I can tell.)

After the dive trips, it may take a week or so to fully recover, with bouts lasting several seconds hitting at odd times, like in the shower.

jky

Cypman · 23 September 2009, 17:24

I put it down to my visiting the pub!!!

codprawn · 23 September 2009, 18:07

Never been sea sick in my life but I have come pretty close on dry land when I lie down in bed.

Get the same feeling when I have been travelling in lifts all day in tall buildings.

PeterM · 23 September 2009, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Get the same feeling when I have been travelling in lifts all day in tall buildings.

I wonder why you are spending all day in lifts in tall buildings ................ not for fun I assume ....or is it .............?

codprawn · 23 September 2009, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackroady

I wonder why you are spending all day in lifts in tall buildings ................ not for fun I assume ....or is it .............?

Nah - when I did some IT work at various tower blocks or whenever I have stayed in tall hotels like in Hong Kong.

One of my mates used to think it was funny to jump up and down in the lift to make it bounce - he wasn't very big but he could get even big lifts swaying quite alarmingly - other passengers were terrified!!!

chewy · 23 September 2009, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Nah - when I did some IT work at various tower blocks or whenever I have stayed in tall hotels like in Hong Kong.

One of my mates used to think it was funny to jump up and down in the lift to make it bounce - he wasn't very big but he could get even big lifts swaying quite alarmingly - other passengers were terrified!!!

Lads used to do it offshore to make the lift think it was overloaded and stop between levels, out for some time off eh!

m chappelow · 23 September 2009, 19:21

never had it in an open boat but if spend time in a cabin not looking out ,chart work ect ,i get it bad at times usually a few of hours after getting off the boat though a lot depends how lumpy the sea is and how tired i am ,,great when you get home sit down and the telly and chairs feel like they are rolling back and forth ,,,,saves on beer , mate of mine said its to do with your equiribliam or some thing ,

taurus · 23 September 2009, 21:25

The sensation does have a fancy name - mal de disembarquement - there are 3 proprioceptors for balance - inner ear, sight and muscles. If one is compromised the body can usually compensate, if 2 are compromised that's when problems occur. So inner ear thinks your still moving because of the constant movement, no sight reference in the darkness = woozy feeling. So don't go for a pee in the dark if you have inner ear problems!

Erin · 24 September 2009, 19:57

Interesting to hear it is more pronounced when in a dark situation. We regularly feel as though the ground is still moving after a long day out, particularly on my parents 32 foot motor boat that wallows and rolls more than the rib. It's not something I find discomfortable... unlike sea sickness.

Poly · 24 September 2009, 20:47

thanks guys - I wasn't worried about it but a bit surprised she complained after such a short time in good conditions. However on reflection we were actually doing a lot of high speed turns and she would have been focussing on the controls more than the horizon too... Good to know others have experienced similar...

mdt · 24 September 2009, 20:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

Before anyone asks - no alcohol had been consumed.

well that will have been the problem

Bigmuz7 · 24 September 2009, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Interesting to hear it is more pronounced when in a dark situation.

And for reasons already mentioned including yours,.. this strategy is already emlpoyed by people who design roller coasters

I never suffer from sea sickness .. but I had a ride in a roller coaster on a euro disney park once , and it was designed to be in the dark ,. and as sober as a judge after I got off the damn thing .. good ride as it was .. I could barely walk,.. no sickness but .. the disorientation was what the coaster designers played upon .. and I can tell you .. even for the well grounded .. it was very disorientating .. very funny too

.. but oh yes, its a real thing

tonymac · 24 September 2009, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdt

well that will have been the problem

Most certainly that was the problem.

Its Arthur's Day.

To Arthur!!!!