Question 529 Deck Safety

The correct answer is C) the most direct approach. When a person has fallen overboard and is in danger of drowning, the lifeboat should make the most direct approach to the person in order to rescue them as quickly as possible. The priority in this situation is to get the person out of the water and to safety as soon as possible, so the lifeboat should take the shortest and most efficient route to reach the person, regardless of the wind direction. The other options, while sometimes appropriate in other situations, are not the best approach when a person's life is at immediate risk. Approaching from windward (A) or across the wind (B) may take more time and distance, which could be critical. Approaching from leeward (D) may put the lifeboat at risk of drifting away from the person in the water.