Everyone was afraid to make a sudden move or speak above a whisper for fear that even such slight disturbances could cause the craft to lurch against the sharp rocks that lay hidden just below the waves.
If you're someone that has trouble sleeping with even the slightestdisturbances around, such as a snoring spouse, barking dog, daytime noises, new places, or loud upstairs neighbor, then you've probably heard some mention of a white noise machine.