Acts 27:17

The second precaution is now listed. "They used supporting cables in undergirding the ship" This involved passing cables round it transversely underneath in order to hold the timbers together. "Ancient vessels were provided with cables ready fitted for bracing the hulls to enable them to resist the destructive force of such winds" (Bruce p. 510). British sailors refer to this practice as frapping. Some feel that this might also have included lashing the stern and bow together above deck to prevent her from having her back broken. "And fearing that they might run around in the shallows of Syritis" The shallows of Syritis were vast beds of sand driven up by the sea, and seeing that these sandbars were constantly shifting and they were feared by sailors. The greater Syritis was almost exactly southwest of Crete, so they would not afford to drift in this direction indefinitely. The name Syritis is pronounced sur tis. "They let down the sea anchor" Which would act as. brake as they drifted along. "So they let themselves be driven along" For the moment there was not much else they could do.