If it is necessary to beach a liferaft or lifeboat, you should keep the boat's ___ to sea and row to meet the breaking waves. In other words, beach the ___ first.

Prepare for the Water Survival 929 Test. Use flashcards, multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Get water safe!

When a liferaft or lifeboat must be brought onto the beach, the goal is to use the waves to help you land safely rather than slam the hull. Keeping the stern toward the sea places the boat in a position where breaking waves tend to lift and push the rear onto the shore first. That stern-first contact gives you better control as you approach the beach and reduces the chances of water washing over the bow or the craft tipping sideways. In practice, you guide the boat so the stern meets the shore first, which helps the crew exit toward safety on the beach.