Unfortunately, your stomach’s also feeling acrobatic, and it has little to do with your partner’s eyes and everything to do with those damn waves.

Motion sickness affects around a third of the population. If you’re one of them, don’t despair. As former sufferers Napoléon Bonaparte, Charles Darwin and even Lawrence of Arabia (those camel rides apparently disagreed with him) have shown, a little sensitivity doesn’t need to relegate you to a lifetime on the shoreline.

"Motion sickness is caused by a sensory miscommunication," says Dr Jaco Folmer of Netcare.

"Every day, your body sends messages to your brain about your spacial orientation. The inner ear is the centre for balance, while your external senses — most importantly, your eyes — send information to your brain about your environment."

Motion sickness happens when these messages conflict. Let’s say you’re reading on a plane when there’s turbulence. Your ears tell your brain that your body is moving, while your eyes, which are fixed to the page, tell your brain that you’re sitting still.

What to do:

• Fix your eyes on the horizon, instead of on your immediate surroundings.
• Close your eyes so your brain only receives input from your ears.
• In a car, sit in the front seat where you can see where you’re going.
• On a plane, book a window seat close to the wing, where the plane is most stable.
• On a boat, choose a cabin in the middle of the ship and on the higher decks.
• Avoid oily and spicy foods.
• If possible, find a place where there’s fresh air on your face.

What to take

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Published courtesy of Horizons

• Cyclizine (Valoid/Nauzine) This antiemetic (treats nausea and vomiting) helps with motion sickness as well. Start the medication 12 to 24 hours before leaving, and take one tablet every eight hours while exposed to the motion.
• Scopolamine is also sometimes used, and is available as a skin patch.
• Ginger is thought to be a mild natural antiemetic, so pack yourself anything that contains ginger.