We put out a sea-anchor to keep the 'James Caird's' head up to the sea.

This anchor consisted of a triangular canvas bag fastened to the end of the painter and allowed to stream out from the bows.

The boat was high enough to catch the wind, and, as she drifted to leeward, the drag of the anchor kept her head to windward.

Thus our boat took most of the seas more or less end on.
Even then the crests of the waves often would curl right over us and we shipped a great deal of water, which necessitated unceasing baling and pumping.

Looking out abeam, we would see a hollow like a tunnel formed as the crest of a big wave toppled over on to the swelling body of water.