And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat:

Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we barely managed to secure the lifeboat.

and having run under a certain little isle, called Clauda, we were hardly able to become masters of the boat,

But running under the lee of a certain island called Clauda, we were with difficulty able to make ourselves masters of the boat;