Taking newbies flying...

Morgans wrote:
A sudden squall line blew up, with winds clocked at over 60 knots, and that
was on land, and before it got to us. We were too far from land to get to
shelter in time. Waves, we estimated, were greater than 12 feet, with not
more than 50 feet, crest to crest.

=== clipped for brevity ===

My theory is that it all goes back to will controlling the sensations. While
you were doing the acro, you were no doubt concentrating on not being sick.
Afterward, you relaxed, and the disorientation done before finally did it's
work.


My first career was as a dive instructor and I've been out in 12 foot seas
myself, although in a bigger (35') boat. I have never been either airsick or
seasick, though I felt seasick my first time out in the Atlantic (6' seas in a
24' boat). That first time out on the water others got sick and so I took many
photos of them chumming the water, laughing as I clicked away. After a while
the motion got to me and sheer willpower prevented me from feeding the fish
myself. I knew that had I disgraced myself, I'd never hear the end of it,
especially considering how merciless I'd been when the shoe was on the other
foot.

For me, the secret to avoiding seasickness is 1) take an antiemetic the night
before and then again at breakfast; 2) eat a light, non-greasy breakfast but
definitely eat something; 3) stay away from the stern of the boat where diesel
fumes come boiling over the gunwhale; 4) stay out in the breeze no matter how
hard it's raining or how hot it is; 5) never look down; 6) sheer willpower.

In the airplane, I hadn't felt any nausea during the aerobatics... it didn't
come on until we were straight and level again and it persisted for a couple of
hours after the flight. But I didn't disgrace myself or my father (also an
airman). I use most of the anti-seasick methods to help me out (except the
drugs). I make the cockpit cool and have the air blowing right into my face. I
make sure my last meal wasn't a burrito, etc.

In my T-34 flight, will power played a part, but only in the last 15 minutes or
so of flight. I honestly didn't feel any nausea before that.


--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com wrote

My first career was as a dive instructor and I've been out in 12 foot seas
myself, although in a bigger (35') boat.

12 foot seas in deep water is a lot different than in 18' deep water. The
steepness of the wave, because of how close the waves are to each other makes a
huge difference.

12 waves on the ocean is just starting to be good sailing. On Western Lake
Erie, 12 foot makes for ...

Not so good! g
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:
12 waves on the ocean is just starting to be good sailing. On Western Lake
Erie, 12 foot makes for ...

Not so good! g


I don't have any fresh water experience to judge from but I can tell you I found
the seas plenty exciting, especially as I was up on the flying bridge hanging on
for dear life. If I went below I'd have to smell puke, which is similar to
yawning. One person does it; everybody wants to...



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 02:11:49 -0500, "Morgans"
wrote:


"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com wrote

My first career was as a dive instructor and I've been out in 12 foot seas
myself, although in a bigger (35') boat.

12 foot seas in deep water is a lot different than in 18' deep water. The
steepness of the wave, because of how close the waves are to each other makes a
huge difference.

12 waves on the ocean is just starting to be good sailing. On Western Lake
Erie, 12 foot makes for ...

12' on Lake Eirie,or Huron for that matter? The first trought would
stick you in the mud and the first wave would bury you in it.


Not so good! g
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

"Roger" wrote

12' on Lake Eirie,or Huron for that matter? The first trought would
stick you in the mud and the first wave would bury you in it.

With 18 foot depth, a 12 foot wave would leave 12 feet depth in the trough, and
the crest would have you with 24 ffet of water under you.

Our boat only drew about 6 feet, to the keel. Very possibe; I was there. It
was the roughest I have ever seen the lake, in 10 years of sailing on the lake.

I love sailing in waves of up to 6 feet. That just means there is enough wind
to really boogie! g

Over 60 knots of "breeze" is a bit too much, though.
--
Jim in NC