But if the shore be steep, the sea does not break until it falls upon the beach, and one can approach close to before incurring any danger. To beach a boat on a steep shore she is run straight in, and at the last moment her bow is turned broadside on to the beach. She should then be hauled up as quickly as possible out of reach of the breakers.
On some coasts washed by wide oceans the sea breaks heavily on the beach even in the calmest weather. If the surf be dangerous, one can wait just outside until a comparative smooth follows a succession of big waves, and then pull in at full speed. One can see this very cleverly done by the boatmen of Madeira when the steep green rollers thunder on its shingle beach.
If a surf is breaking on a steep rocky shore and it is necessary to embark or to disembark passengers, this can be done without beaching the boat and thereby incurring the risk of staving her in. The anchor is let go just outside the surf, and the boat is backed in towards the shore with the oars, while a hand in the bows pays out the cable slowly, thus keeping the boat end on to the sea. When the boat's stern is near enough to the shore to allow of a man leaping off or on to the boat, the cable is made fast; but the man in the bows must be in readiness to haul out again on the approach of a dangerous sea, giving her cable again when the moment is favourable. By this plan, if it is properly worked, and provided the anchor holds and
