The ___________ acts on the hull, topsides, and, on smaller boats, the crew.

• A. Wind
• B. Water
• C. Current
• D. Tide

Answer: (A)

Wind is the force from the air that acts on anything exposed above the water. It presses on the hull and topsides as the boat moves through air, and it also directly affects the crew on deck. Water-related forces—current or tide—primarily act on submerged hull surfaces or change the water level, not on the exposed topsides or on people in the same direct way. So wind best fits the description of acting on the hull, topsides, and the crew.