In "The Open Boat," why did the captain order the cook to take the boat further out to sea during the night?

In the story “The Open Book,” the captain tells the cook and the other men to take the boat farther out to the sea where the water is a bit calmer, because the big waves can get large enough to completely swamp the entire boat. In fact, it is the oiler who suggests this plan, and the captain agrees. The captain orders the cook to take the oar at the back of the boat and use it to steer the boat facing the sea to maintain its course. This way, the cook could see and hear the waves. It also made it possible for the oiler and the correspondent to rest, so that they can restore some of their strength and energy.

Later in the night, they took the boat farther out to sea. The captain told the cook to take one oar at the rear and keep the boat facing the seas. This plan enabled the oiler and correspondent to rest together. “We’ll give those boys a chance to gather some strength,” said the captain.