During lifeboat retrieval, the ship positions the vessel so that the empty davit is on which side?

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During lifeboat retrieval, the aim is to minimize the influence of wind and sea on the lifeboat as it’s brought back into the davit. Placing the empty davit on the leeward side (the downwind side) lets wind and spray push the approaching boat away from the hull, making the recovery smoother and reducing the risk of the boat or lines striking the ship. If the empty davit were on the windward side, wind would tend to push the boat toward the hull, increasing the chance of collision or entanglement. Port and starboard simply denote the ship’s sides; the critical factor is leeward versus windward.