G'Day all
I have enjoyed the recent discussion about pelagic birding. For those
affected by sea sickness, succumbing to the dreaded "Technicolor yawn"
is not much fun.
When one spends a bit of time at sea, you soon learn that sea sickness
affects nearly everybody differently. Interestingly, some people with
the best terrestrial balance are often most prone to motion sickness.
Have others observed this?
A hard stomach for blood and gore doesn't exempt one from sea sickness
and visa versa. In a past incarnation while working for SA Dept.
Environment, I was skipper of the patrol boat based at Port Lincoln and
on one occasion, travelling 8 hours in rough seas to Pearson Island in
the Great Australian Bight my offsider was so sick he seemed to
contemplate throwing himself overboard to obtain relief.
Sympathetically someone in the crew offered him a "sardine and sweetened
cream" sandwich but an hour after arriving at the island, he had
recovered and was not bothered at all while cutting deeply into the
decomposing carcass of a fur seal looking for its cause of death.
During the autopsy, he asked for his sandwich and that was the straw
that broke the camels back for the hardened sea warriors.
Seriously though, discomfort on pelagic tours can be minimized with good
planning and the wise use of local knowledge. For example, Tasmania is
located in the "roaring forties" and predictably from early September
until early December, westerly winds screaming at gale force 35 knots
plus will prevail. If you ever want to see fear in the eyes of an
experienced Tasmanian seaman ask about sea conditions at Pedra Blanca or
the continental shelf during spring. November is known locally as
Blovember and even if you don't have a degree in climate changeology
that, should tell you something. Of course you can strike a lucky day
at any time of the year, but if you're first pelagic is made on a
typical spring day in the roaring forties, chances are it will be your last.
More importantly, boat design, vessel disposition in the water, its
riding characteristics and the way it is operated has a major influence
on passenger comfort and enjoyment. Within the industry, some boats are
renowned for sending passengers over the brink while others are known as
good sea boats. Exaggerated rolling is a sad characteristic of some
boats adding to the discomfort of passengers. A good sea boat will be
stabilized. Pitching fore and aft is uncomfortable too but is usually
manageable providing the skipper is sympathetic to passenger comfort and
the boat is not permitted to slam oncoming waves. Second hand smoking,
dirty boats and fatigue will also exacerbate sea sickness.
Local knowledge teaches us some things to avoid. Although not directly
related to sea sickness, racing home at the end of a voyage creates
anxiety for many on board and is a dangerous practice inviting
disaster. Especially here in Tasmania where roads are narrow and very
winding, an extended drive back to Hobart /Launceston/ Davenport is not
recommended until you have rested. This is especially so during winter
when black ice, frosts and dense fogs are prevalent, roadside native
animals are abundant and darkness descends before 5.00 pm. To
minimize fatigue arriving the day before and to depart the day after
your sea trip is good practice
We (St helens Marine Services) are planning a series of regular Pelagic
birding trips to the continental shelf from December (after the roaring
forty gales drop out) through to August 2008. I will post further
details with date schedules in the next few days.
Regards and good birding
Ian May
St Helens Marine Services
PO Box 110
St Helens Tasmania. 7216
Phone (03)63761966 or mobile 0428 337 956.
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