I have now crossed Bass Strait five times by ship.

The first time was a sailing ship on which I was part of the crew bringing a Sydney-Hobart boat back to Sydney after the race.

The other four times were on the Spirit of Tasmania, a somewhat larger and more comfortable vessel.

While I had heard that Bass Strait could be rough, until this last trip I had never personally experienced it.

On one of the crossings I had been speaking with another passenger who told be about his previous trip during which it was so rough he had been tossed out of his seat.

I am a little prone to seasickness and so rough seas are not a thrill for me but I had felt it would be good to have a bit of an experience of what it could be like.

So, for our latest crossing (last Thursday night) my wish was answered.

It started out calmly enough, until we got outside Devonport and into the Strait.

During dinner there was a bit of swell and some slight movement giving the impression that things would actually feel like you were at sea without it getting out of hand.

With that going on we headed off to bed.

And that’s when things got interesting – with the sea I mean.

The swell increased and there was a lot more rocking and rolling – remember we’re talking about the ship here.

An ‘interesting’ aspect of the Spirit of Tasmania is that it is a vehicle ferry as well as carrying people.

And so when coming off big waves you can hear the vehicles, especially the big trucks, crashing up and down.

Even though they are securely locked in they manage to make a lot of noise and you can FEEL their movement as they bounce up and down.

Back in my sailing days I learned a few things about seasickness:
– Everyone can be prone to it, even the best sailors. Admiral Nelson was a victim.
– There are two phases of this debilitating illness: at first you’re afraid you’ll die and then you’re afraid you won’t.
– There is only one cure – sit under a tree.

As the seas were building I was a little apprehensive that I would get sick.

However, being horizontal ie in bed, helped dispel or avoid any symptoms.

I’m generally a very good sleeper.

Someone recently told me about some advice he’d received from his father: find out what you’re good at and stick to it.

I learned a long time ago that I’m very good at sleeping, in fact it saved my life.

I used to live in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.

Each day I would catch the same train in to work and I would sit in the same carriage.

On Tuesday, 18th January 1977 I slept in.

That was a very good day to do so as it was the day of the Granville Train Disaster.

The main carriage that was crushed was the one I usually sat in.

Since then I’ve taken every opportunity I can, to go to sleep.

After all, that was clearly good paternal advice about continuing to do what you’re good at.

And so, on our latest crossing of Bass Strait I spent most of the time asleep even though I was aware enough of the thumping and bumping going on around me.

A little like being rocked to sleep by a not so gentle giant.

Perhaps, there is another solution for seasickness apart from the tree cure mentioned above – sleep through it.