We passed to the south of is a synonym of the verb sailed down the sheltered side of used in verse 7. Both words are technical nautical terms referring to sailing that is done on the side of the island that protects the ship from the winds. In this instance, it was the south side of the island that offered shelter, and so the Good News Translation has rendered we passed to the south. There is some difference of opinion as to whether this island should be called “Cauda” or “Clauda.” New English Bible, Jerusalem Bible, and An American Translation*, along with Good News Translation, accept Cauda.

The ship’s boat was a small boat sometimes towed and sometimes tied down on deck; it was used for a variety of purposes, especially for landing. We managed to make the ship’s boat secure refers primarily to what was done immediately following in verse 17, namely, pulling the boat aboard and tying it down with ropes. This entire clause may be translated in some languages as “then we were able to make safe the little boat that was towed behind the ship, but it was difficult to do this.” In some languages “to make safe” would be equivalent to “to keep from being broken.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .