h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My wife & I have been sailing a 27' cruising sailboat for many years in Galveston Bay (near Houston, TX, USA) and in the Gulf of Mexico. It does have a 'head' (a small room with a toilet and a very small window), but 'going below' in heavy weather is a real challenge - the boat is rocking like a mechanical bull. So generally the men go off the back, after an "eyes forward" shout. The ladies tend to deal with the bull.

A problem has come up on other boats (not on mine, so far) when a man just can't relax enough to urinate in a wildly bouncing small craft. Its hard to describe the motion, but its very "bouncy" with sudden bumps and grinds ... uhh, rolls, that can't be anticipated. (Worse in the choppy, shallow Bay, the Gulf is more big rollers). I have read that a racing crewman needed help from a physician onboard in one case.

I feel lucky to not have such a problem, especially since my bladder needs frequent relief. I also never get seasick, possibly related.

I had heard of it in trains, but never on boats. Still, if they can't go, they can't, erm, 'make a mess'.