What is the command to salute an officer or get the oars up quickly while coming alongside?

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

The key idea is clearing the oars from the water quickly so the crew can present a neat, ready posture for saluting or coming alongside. The command to toss oars tells rowers to lift the blades out of the water rapidly and keep them clear, which achieves a clean silhouette and avoids any splash or contact with the hull. The other commands have different purposes: give way port directs steering toward the port side; bank the oars is used to slow or stop by angling the blades in the water; backwater starboard backs the boat on the starboard side. Therefore, tossing the oars is the correct action for a swift salute or quick oar-up.