Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/212

 with him in a small boat, taught us how to pull an oar, and instructed us in the art of landing when, a heavy sea was breaking. Taking the steer oar he directed us to back in cautiously. When a big roller overtook us he called on us to pull out towards it, and kept us head cm. When it had passed we resumed our backing with directions to watch the steer oar, in order that, should it get broken, we might be ready with the oars to prevent the boat being sideways on the beach. As soon as we touched bottom we had to jump out smartly, and seizing the gunwale run the boat up the beach on an even keel.

In case of a capsize he told us that when a boat swamps she goes under water, and on rising again invariably turns bottom upwards. The right thing to do in such a case is to get hold of an oar, and using it as a support swim about until all the gear (oars, mast, and everything that floats adrift) has been collected and tied together. Using this as a raft the boat is first of all righted, and then, by means of a quick jerk, some of the water is splashed out of her. When she is about half-emptied, the remaining water can be baled out, the gear taken on board, and sailing resumed.