{"id":1722834,"date":"2026-11-12T07:40:47","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T06:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/?p=1722834"},"modified":"2026-11-12T07:40:47","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T06:40:47","slug":"land-sickness-causes-duration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/segelmagazin\/landkrankheit-ursache-dauer\/","title":{"rendered":"Land sickness after sailing: cause, duration and what helps"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Land sickness is the rocking, bobbing or swaying you feel on land after a sailing trip or cruise, even though the ground is still. It is common, usually harmless and normally passes within a few hours. If the swaying lasts longer than two days, you should have it checked by a doctor.<\/p>\n<h2>The essentials at a glance<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>According to studies, around three in four people feel rocking, bobbing or sideways swaying for a time after a sea voyage.<\/li>\n<li>It usually lasts a few hours. Up to about 48 hours is considered normal.<\/li>\n<li>If the swaying persists, specialists speak of Mal de D\u00e9barquement syndrome. From one month onwards it is considered persistent.<\/li>\n<li>Unlike seasickness, land sickness only begins after you disembark, and nausea is not the main feature.<\/li>\n<li>With ordinary land sickness, time is the main remedy: move slowly, rest and don't drive yourself for as long as the ground seems to sway.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is land sickness?<\/h2>\n<p>Land sickness is an illusion of movement after a long time on an unsteady surface. You are standing still, but it feels as if you were still on deck.<\/p>\n<p>Three sensations are typical: a rocking back and forth, a bobbing up and down and a swaying from side to side. They can combine. Rotational vertigo, where the room spins around you, is not part of it.<\/p>\n<p>In medicine the phenomenon is called Mal de D\u00e9barquement, French for \u201csickness of disembarkation\u201d. It doesn't affect only sailors: it also occurs after cruises, ferry crossings, long flights or train journeys. However, a journey on the water is the most common trigger.<\/p>\n<h2>How long does land sickness last after sailing?<\/h2>\n<p>For most people the swaying is gone after a few hours. Anything that disappears within 48 hours is considered normal.<\/p>\n<p>This is exactly where the <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9249277\/\">international diagnostic criteria<\/a> for vertigo disorders draw the line:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Duration of swaying<\/th>\n<th>Classification<\/th>\n<th>What that means for you<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>up to about 48 hours<\/td>\n<td>normal land sickness<\/td>\n<td>usually harmless<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>more than 48 hours, up to 1 month<\/td>\n<td>Mal de D\u00e9barquement syndrome, transient form<\/td>\n<td>have it checked by a doctor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>longer than 1 month<\/td>\n<td>Mal de D\u00e9barquement syndrome, persistent form<\/td>\n<td>assessment by neurology or ENT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>How long the trip lasted says little about how long land sickness will last. Even a few hours on the water can be enough.<\/p>\n<h2>Why does the ground sway after sailing?<\/h2>\n<p>Because your balance system has adapted to the constant motion on board and now has to unlearn that adaptation on land.<\/p>\n<p>The brain builds your sense of balance from several sources: the vestibular organ in the inner ear, the eyes, and feedback from muscles and joints. On a yacht that rolls and pitches, it learns to compensate for this motion continuously. The same process of adjustment is why seasickness usually eases on board over time.<\/p>\n<p>When you step off the boat, your brain carries on compensating for a while for motion that is no longer there. The result is that rocking feeling on land. Usually the system readjusts quickly. Why it takes much longer for some people is not yet fully understood.<\/p>\n<h2>Land sickness or seasickness: what is the difference?<\/h2>\n<p>Seasickness occurs during the motion, land sickness only once the motion is over. That is the key difference.<\/p>\n<p>With seasickness, nausea, sweating, tiredness and headaches are the main symptoms. It builds up the longer the swell lasts. With land sickness, the dominant feeling is of swaying yourself. Nausea may be present at the start, but it is not the main sign.<\/p>\n<p>How to prevent seasickness on board, and what helps when it strikes, is explained in detail in the article <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-magazine\/sea-conditions-wellbeing-seasickness\/\">seasickness when sailing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What is mal de d\u00e9barquement syndrome?<\/h2>\n<p>That is what land sickness is called when it lasts longer than 48 hours. It is much rarer than the short form and can seriously affect everyday life.<\/p>\n<p>To make a diagnosis, doctors look for four features:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>a rocking, bobbing or swaying sensation that is present constantly or almost all day,<\/li>\n<li>onset within 48 hours of the end of the journey,<\/li>\n<li>temporary relief when in motion again, for example when travelling by car, with the symptoms returning once you stop,<\/li>\n<li>no other condition that better explains the symptoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Tiredness, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to light, headaches or anxiety often accompany it. Stress, lack of sleep and hormonal fluctuations can make the symptoms worse.<\/p>\n<p>Short-lived land sickness affects men and women about equally often. The longer-lasting syndrome, however, mainly affects women, with onset most commonly between the ages of 40 and 49. It can recur after a later journey, and further episodes often last longer than the first.<\/p>\n<p>Balance tests usually come back normal. Their main purpose is to rule out other causes. Treatment should be left to specialists in neurology or ENT who are familiar with the condition.<\/p>\n<h2>What helps against land sickness?<\/h2>\n<p>With ordinary land sickness, time is the main remedy. A few simple measures will help you get through the first hours ashore more safely.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Move slowly and deliberately, especially on pontoons, stairs and uneven paving.<\/li>\n<li>Do not get up abruptly after sitting or lying down, and do not bend down quickly.<\/li>\n<li>Rest and get enough sleep. Tiredness noticeably increases the swaying.<\/li>\n<li>Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol for as long as you feel unsteady.<\/li>\n<li>Do not drive yourself or climb a ladder while the ground is swaying.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For sailors, that means in practice: after mooring up, do not plan a long drive home behind the wheel the same evening. A night in the harbour or a lift with someone else is the more relaxed solution.<\/p>\n<p>Do not take medication for dizziness on your own initiative. If symptoms persist, it is for your doctor to decide whether treatment is advisable and which kind.<\/p>\n<h2>When should you see a doctor about land sickness?<\/h2>\n<p>If the swaying has not clearly eased after two days, gets worse or limits you in everyday life. Your first port of call is your GP surgery, from where you can be referred to neurology or ENT if needed.<\/p>\n<p>You should also have dizziness checked by a doctor if it comes with hearing problems, tinnitus, double vision, numbness, fainting or repeated vomiting. Be sure to tell the practice about your trip, as it is a crucial clue for the diagnosis.<\/p>\n<p>Call the emergency number 112 immediately if you experience sudden paralysis or weakness in an arm, a leg or one side of the face, speech or vision problems, sudden unsteadiness when walking or a very severe headache. These can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patienten-information.de\/medien\/kurzinfomationen\/schlaganfall-kip.pdf\">signs of a stroke<\/a> , even if you have only just come ashore.<\/p>\n<h2>Well prepared for your next sailing trip<\/h2>\n<p>For most people, land sickness is only a brief reminder of their time on the water. On T\u00f6rnfinder you will find <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-trips\/\">Sailing Trips<\/a> in many sailing areas, from weekend trips to longer crossings. What belongs in your kit bag is listed in the <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-magazine\/packing-list-sailing-trip\/\">Packing list for the sailing trip<\/a>. And if you would like to take on responsibility yourself after your first trips, read on at <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-magazine\/from-boating-licence-to-your-first-sailing-trip\/\">From sailing licence to your first independent sailing trip<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>How long does land sickness last after a cruise?<\/h3>\n<p>Usually a few hours, and as a rule no longer than two days. This applies after a cruise just as much as after a sailing trip. If the swaying lasts longer, have it checked by a doctor.<\/p>\n<h3>Is land sickness dangerous?<\/h3>\n<p>Normal land sickness is generally harmless. The main danger is a fall, so you should move carefully for the first few hours. Sudden neurological deficits, on the other hand, are an emergency.<\/p>\n<h3>Why do I feel the swaying mainly when standing or in bed?<\/h3>\n<p>The rocking is most noticeable when you are stationary; when walking or riding as a passenger in a car, it often eases temporarily. Some people also feel it clearly when lying down. Exactly why this is so has not yet been fully established.<\/p>\n<h3>Can land sickness be prevented?<\/h3>\n<p>No reliably effective way of preventing it is known. Because stress and lack of sleep can make the symptoms worse, it is worth stepping off the boat well rested and not planning too much for the day after your trip.<\/p>\n<h3>Will I get land sickness after every trip?<\/h3>\n<p>Not necessarily. Brief land sickness may occur after one trip and not after the next. If you have already had the longer-lasting syndrome, you should talk to your doctor before your next longer trip, as it can recur.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why the ground keeps rocking after a sailing trip, how long land sickness normally lasts, and when harmless swaying becomes a matter for a doctor.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":1722782,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tf_mag_toernhinweis":"meilentoern","footnotes":""},"categories":[537],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1722834","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sicherheit-seemannschaft","category-537","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1722834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1722834"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1722834\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1722839,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1722834\/revisions\/1722839"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1722782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1722834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1722834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1722834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}