I think I need a cat or tri

[noelH]

Awoke one morning to no hearing in the left ear. SSNHL(sudden sensorineural hearing loss).  Now like the majority of cases diagnosed as Idiopathic SSNHL. Just got to accept another aging disability. Problem is my balance went from "exceptional" to not the best.   Windsurfing, snowboarding, surfskating are probably done.  Initially was concerned that sailing might be done. But either balance is improving or I've adjusted, accommodated to the loss.  Jumped onto the Indo roller board and managed not to fall off. But falling off Vela in L. Superior is probably the last day breathing.

Thinking cat or trimaran would roll and pitch less? At least on a sailboat most the motion is relatively smooth and slow. Right now the balance issue is a bit of a delayed response and at times over response to rapid changes in equilibrium.

Maybe this negative life event has a real positive.  Always wanted a Farrier F22 or DragonFly 25. Might have to build a boathouse/barn and spend the big $$$s.

[Spot]

Sorry to hear of your troubles Noel.

Have you been following the fast trimaran race out of Brest, France?

https://www.arkeaultimchallengebrest.com/en

[Jim B., CD-25]

I moved to a trimaran (F27) from a monohull for the increase in speed back in the day.  The ride/movement is different... I used to joke that "in order to go overboard, I had to fall off twice: once to fall out of the cockpit, and a second time to fall off the net/ama."  We really enjoyed that boat.  That said, with most trimarans, there is still some movement and leaning.  A taller mast to deal with when rigging (and more stress on the rigging).  (The Telstar has a great mast raising system, but isn't as fast as the Corsair F27/F28.)  A side-tie or wider berth when in a marina.  Narrower accommodations in the cabin compared to a similar size monohull.

I sailed on various Hobies over the years and never found them as comfortable as a boat with a cockpit.  Bigger cats sail flatter (I had a friend who had a 36' cat - certainly not "trailerable").

The sailing on a cat or a tri is different, but every bit as enjoyable.  They may not be the answer to balance issues, but it would be worth it to try to snag a ride to see if it works for you.

[Norm L.]

I had vertigo show up one night a year ago. It was like laying down in bed after too many hours of drinking. But passed in about 30 seconds. I got PT and do my exercises 3 times a week and it has ceased being a problem while a 2 or 3 second episode can still pop up.

My experience is with powered catamarans of the high-speed passenger kind. They are great in protected water, but not in a sea, depending on the sea direction. a quartering aft sea sets up a corkscrew motion. This is not good for passengers.

I have heard stories about such a trip on the Key West Express out of Fort Myers.
I took the Milwaukee/Muskegon ferry on a cold but beautiful day. There were only about 30 passengers but 25 of them were sick from that corkscrew motion. I ended up sitting on a bench outside in the lee of the deckhouse talking to a tug captain from Chicago. He was smoking a cigar and if he had gone into the house people would have killed him. Not because of a fear of secondhand smoke but the very unwelcome smell of his cigar.

[Noemi - Ensenada 20]

JimB, I saw that you had responded, and instantly thought you were going to get another kitty. 

[Jim B., CD-25]

JimB, I saw that you had responded, and instantly thought you were going to get another kitty. 

Hi Noemi - We did get another cat; the house felt empty without a feline family member.  One does not replace another, but we have more room in our hearts.  Meet Murphy...



Apologies for getting off topic.

To get back on-topic: when my Mother was alive, she had bout of vertigo that went on for days. Her doctor sent her to a guy who "manipulated her head" and it eliminated the problem.

[Noemi - Ensenada 20]

You know we have no off-topic here.

What a beautiful cat!  Hello, Murphy!!

My friend had that same experience as your mother.  There's something that can get up into the spiral....ummm...part of your inner ear.  Unspinning the head is the cure.

[Ed]

Noel, you might consider alternatives before spending the big bucks on a Corsair, etal.  I'm on my 3rd Sea Pearl Tri (changes in sailing club composition from couples on weekend camping trips versus couples doing marina destinations) and have enjoyed each of them immensely.  Good turn of speed, sleeps two comfortably, can be towed by nearly anything, and parts are still available for the most part.  This one has been completely redone by a guy that has owned a dozen Sea Pearl models over the years. https://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/102960  If you talk to Larry, the owner, tell him I sent you, I've known and sailed with him for 20+ years.

[Norm L.]

Yes, Noemi. It is the (named after the founder, an Italian doctor) Movement. It works for many people as that part of the inner ear is a common source. But not the only source. My version is permanent but is now at an almost unrecognizable level.

[noelH]

Balance has improved significantly. Able to more or less trail run, careful boulder hopping, but occasionally feel off balance for a few moments.  Still probably too wobbly to enjoy windsurfing and snowboarding.  Jumped onto the Indo Balance roller board, but quick movements and "recentering" is a bit sketchy.  Sailing even in big seas will probably not be an issue.  Just the times when even at 100% that I almost get pitched off.

Talking cats. The furry, 4 legged ones.  My sister home has a daily visitor.  Gigantic, fluffy, friendly fur ball of a cat. Ignores and has no fear of her English Lab. Who also ignores the cat.  Cat has a camera, the equivalent of an action cam attached to the collar. Bit creepy to think that the owner is watching or recording you. But the cat is nice and sociable.

[noelH]

More off topic.  Over the Christmas Holidays one of the annoying things about the hearing loss in my left ear is the right ear seeming to become more sensitive to sound and in a noisy environment the background noise more than ever blocking out conversational speech sound. 

Found a product that at least for me really deals with this issue.  Company called Loop. They have different ear plugs for different types of situations and environments. Purchased their Engage model. The filter in the plug at least from my perspective and others does a good job in decreasing the volume of background sounds, but not the person talking to you. No comfort issues at least for me.  They supply different sized silicone fittings (XS,S,M,L). All day comfort.

[Noemi - Ensenada 20]

Nice find on those earplugs.  That's a simple, mechanical solution to the problem.  I will mention it to some of my friends.

[Norm L.]

Yes, those plugs sound like a possible solution, one that is handled digitally with hearing aids and the matching app. I jump around settings to find the one that fits the situation, some working on the sound, others working against background noise.

[noelH]

Still deaf, but either developing improved balance or things have improved.  Bit weird. Some days for a period of time the off balance feeling return due to "jelly scrolling vision".  Think iPad Mini jelly scrolling. Just weird sensation. Running feels like my head is a bobble head. 

Broke out the surf skate today and gave it a go inside the garage. No real issues, but no jelly scrolling today.  Sailing shouldn't be an issue.  Might be done windsurfing and windsurf foiling. The primo windsurfing F6 days will probably mean beached. F6 usually means F7 gusts with heavy seas. Vela doesn't like the pounding.  My body doesn't like the pounding. Must be getting OLD. Really prefer the  F3-4 days.  F5 gusts are fine, but sustained... I hope I'm on the downwind leg riding the swells and exceeding hull speed.

[Norm L.]

That is so aggravating. My BPPV is well under control after a bit of PT and learning home exercises.
Your symptoms seem a bit different. Have you tried the Canalith Repositioning exercise? It didn't work for me but did for several other people I know that had vertigo. It can be done at home but to me it would be more effective if someone did it on you.