What should you do immediately if your boat runs aground?

When a boat runs aground, the recommended immediate action is to lower the sails. This is a crucial step because sails can create additional forces on the boat, which might exacerbate the grounding situation and make it harder for the boat to be freed. When the sails are up, they catch wind and can push the boat further onto the shoal or into a worse position. Lowering the sails decreases the wind pressure on the boat and stabilizes it, allowing the crew to assess the situation and take the necessary steps to safely refloat the boat.

Once the sails are lowered, the operator can then consider other options, such as using the engine, if it is safe to do so, to help the boat get off the ground, or calling for assistance if necessary. Turning off the engine would typically be a step that comes after determining whether it might be needed for refloating the vessel, and raising the sails would generally be counterproductive at this stage. Calling for assistance is also a valid option but is not the immediate action to take when a grounding happens. The focus should be on stabilizing the situation first by lowering the sails.