Your 80-ton schooner is hove to on the starboard tack under storm trysail and fore-staysail in 45 knots of wind. Your heading is averaging about 000° true and the wind is from the northeast. There is a dangerous shoal bearing 270° true, range 5 miles. Which action would be appropriate?

Correct Answer: Option C — You should tack or jibe to the port tack and make all possible headway to the south.

With a northeast wind and a dangerous shoal bearing 270 degrees true at 5 miles, hove-to drift on the starboard tack carries the vessel directly westward toward the hazard. Tacking or jibing to the port tack provides safe southward leeway away from danger.