What does Acts 27:11 mean?

Julius the centurion is a Roman army commander usually in command of about one hundred 100 legionaries, although the number in his specific unit is not listed. He is tasked with bringing Paul, Aristarchus, and some other prisoners to Rome for trial (Acts 27:1). They traveled from Caesarea Maritima to the port of Myra on the southwest coast of modern-day Turkey. They then boarded an Alexandrian ship, likely exporting grain, headed to Rome; the centurion may be working a side-job guarding the grain (Acts 27:1–6).

So far, the weather has not cooperated. Winds pushed them south when they wanted to sail west, and they're currently moored in Fair Havens on the southern coast of Crete (Acts 27:8). They need to go northwest to Rome. However, winter storms are coming, and the winds are from the north. Fair Havens isn't outfitted to house massive grain ships. A little farther west, around a point, is Phoenix with two well-protected harbors. The owner plans to go on and the shipmaster agrees.

Paul keeps interjecting into the conversation, telling them it's unsafe. Paul insists that if they leave Fair Havens they will lose the cargo, the ship, and all their lives (Acts 27:9–10).

The owner and pilot know if they stay, it will not go well for them either (Acts 27:12). The centurion could take his prisoners and spend the winter in Fair Havens. If he did so, he'd have to find lodging and, if he is being paid to protect the cargo, he'd lose that job. In addition, he'd have to find another ship to take them to Rome in the spring. Instead, the centurion trusts the professional sailors. Phoenix is only about 40 miles, or 65 kilometers, away. If they can get less than half that far, they can hug the coastline the rest of the way. There, the mountains will protect them from the winds. It doesn't make sense to stay.