278 RULES FOR MANAGEMENT. 



for the guidance of those who may have insufficient experience 

 in the management of boats under such circumstances. Rules 

 for the management of boats in a surf and broken water 

 naturally fall under two heads, viz.: ist. Their management 

 when proceeding from the shore to seaward against the 

 direction of the surf. 2nd. Their management under the 

 opposite circumstances of running for the shore before a 

 broken sea. Before stating the course to be pursued under 

 each head, we may remark that it i? an axiom almost uni- 

 versally acknowledged that there is, as a general rule, far more 

 danger when running for the shore before a broken sea than when 

 being propelled against it on going from the land ; the danger 

 consisting in the liability of a boat to broach-to and upset, 

 either by running her bow under water, or by her being thrown 

 on her beam-ends, and overturned broadside on. 



Rules of Management. In Rowing to Seaward. As a 

 general rule, speed must be given to a boat rowing against a heavy 

 surf. Indeed, under some circumstances, her safety will 

 depend on the utmost possible speed being attained on 

 meeting a sea. For if the sea be really heavy, and the wind 

 blowing a hard on-shore gale, it can only be by the utmost 

 exertions of the crew that any headway can be made. The 

 great danger then is, that an approaching heavy sea may carry 

 the boat away on its front, and turn it broadside on or up-end 

 it, either effect being immediately fatal. A boat's only chance 

 in such a case is to obtain such way as shall enable her to pass, 

 end on, through the crest of the sea, and leave it as soon as 

 possible behind her. If there be rather a heavy surf, but 

 no wind, or the wind off shore, and opposed to the surf, as 

 is often the case, a. boat might be propelled so rapidly through 

 it that her bow would fall more suddenly and heavily after 

 topping the sea than if her way had been checked ; and it 

 may therefore only be when the sea is of such magnitude, and 

 the boat of such a character, that there may be chance of the 

 former carrying her back before it, that full speed should be 

 given to her. It may also happen that, by careful management 

 under such circumstances, a boat may be made to avoid the 

 sea, so that each wave may break ahead of her, which may be 



