How to Avoid Seasickness on a Marbella Charter (Captain's Guide)

By Boat Rental Marbella Editorial Team · Updated 16 May 2026 · Reviewed by local Marbella skippers

Seasickness ruins more Marbella charters than weather does. The good news: it's almost entirely preventable. This page is the captain's-perspective playbook — boat choice, what to take, what to eat, how to behave on board, and what to do if it starts anyway.

Step 1: pick the right boat

Stability differs more between boat types than anything else you can control. Ranked from most-stable (least-seasick-inducing) to least:

1. Power catamaran — two hulls, flat deck, twin engines, no heel. Best.
2. Sail catamaran — same flat deck, but rolling at anchor and slightly slower transit.
3. Large motor yacht 16 m+ — mass dampens motion. Good.
4. Standard motor yacht 10-14 m — fine for most people in normal sea.
5. Sportfisher — narrow beam, deeper roll. Worse at anchor.
6. Sailing monohull — heels 15-20° under sail. The classic seasickness boat.
7. Licence-free 5 m runabout — light, every wave is felt.

If anyone in the group has a history of seasickness, book a catamaran rental Marbella and the issue is largely solved before you start.

Step 2: medication

The two over-the-counter preventatives that actually work:

• Stugeron (cinnarizine 15mg) — Spanish pharmacy €5-8, UK pharmacy without prescription. Take 1 hour before boarding. 6-8 hour cover. Slight drowsiness possible. The default choice.
• Scopolamine patch (Transderm Scop) — behind-the-ear patch, prescription only, lasts 72 hours. Reserve for multi-day charters or known severe sufferers.

What to skip: Dramamine (older, more drowsy), pressure bracelets (placebo for most, can't hurt), homeopathic anything (does nothing).

Ginger — raw ginger, capsules or strong tea before boarding — helps roughly 30% of people. Cheap, no side effects, worth trying alongside Stugeron, not instead of it.

Step 3: food before boarding

• Eat something — empty stomach + motion = nausea even in stable people. Light breakfast: bread, banana, eggs, yogurt.
• Avoid: alcohol the night before, fried food the morning of, strong coffee on an empty stomach, anything spicy.
• On board: sip water, nibble dry crackers or apple if you feel queasy. Avoid fatty snacks and dairy until back on land.

Step 4: behaviour on board

1. Stay topside. The cabin amplifies motion and removes the horizon — the worst place to be when queasy.
2. Stare at the horizon. Your inner ear feels motion; your eyes need a matching visual reference. The horizon delivers exactly that.
3. Stand or sit in the middle of the boat — least motion. The bow and the stern move more.
4. Face forward. Looking sideways or backwards is worse for the vestibular system.
5. Don't read or use your phone — the brain rebels at static text while the world moves.
6. Fresh air — keep the wind on your face. Diesel fumes near the stern can tip a borderline stomach.

Step 5: when it starts anyway

Early signs: yawning, sweating, sudden cool feeling, slight saliva increase, withdrawal from conversation. Act fast:

• Tell the skipper. They'll adjust speed and heading, or head for a calmer anchor.
• Move to the middle of the boat, sit low, eyes on horizon.
• Sip cold water with a slice of lemon.
• Chew a piece of ginger or take a second Stugeron if you took the first one less than 4 hours ago.
• If vomiting: do it over the leeward side (skipper will indicate). Hydrate after.

Most people recover within 30 minutes once anchored in calm water. The trip can usually continue.

If you're a known sufferer

Book a power catamaran, take Stugeron, eat a small breakfast, pick a flat-sea morning (early start beats afternoon levante), and you'll have a fine day. Mention seasickness when booking and the skipper will design the route to favour calm water. For more on which boat suits whom, the boat rental Marbella hub compares every option.

Frequently asked questions