COPIES of the following circular, relative to the proper management of boats when running to the shore before a heavy broken sea, have been forwarded to the branches of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, with the view to its being brought to the notice of the boatmen in their localities, and especially to that of the coxswains of life-boats:— Although the proper management of a boat when running before a broken sea to the shore is well understood at many parts of our coasts, yet as mismanagement or carelessness under such circumstances is still the cause of many boats being upset by " broaching to," the Committee of the NATIONAL LITE-BOAT INSTITUTION think it important to call the attention of all their life-boats' crews to the cause of such accidents, and to the proper mode of preventing them, as indisputably proved by experience.

The cause of a boat's " broaching to " is the propelling her rapidly before the sea, whether by sails or oars, instead of checking her speed and allowing each successive sea to pass her on its approach.

There is therefore extreme danger at all times in running a boat with speed before a heavy broken sea in shoal water. Excepting where the beach is steep, the safer management of a rowing boat in a really heavy sea is to back her, stern foremost, to the shore, keeping her bow pointed to the seas and propelling her slightly against each sea until it has passed her or is under her stern.

If a boat is rowed to the shore with her stern to seaward, her oars should then be regularly backed, so as to stop her way on the approach of each wave; and way should not again be given until the wave has passed to the bow, and her position thereby be retained on the outer or safe side of the wave.

This treatment runs exactly counter to the natural desire to get quickly over the apprehended danger; but it is the only safe mode by which a boat can be taken to the shore before a heavy broken surf.