Meanwhile, the boat was already a considerable distance from the shore—several miles out, being battered and tossed by the waves because the wind was against them, blowing contrary to their direction.
and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
NMVThe boat was in the midst of the sea and the waves of the sea were driving it because the wind was contrary.
OJBNow the sirah (boat), being tossed by the waves for the wind was against them, was by this time many stadia distant from the land.
TCENTMeanwhile, the boat was already in the middle of the sea, being tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them.
T4TBy this time we were already many hundred meters from the shore. The boat was being severely tossed around by the waves {The waves were severely tossing the boat} because the wind was blowing against it.