Jonah fled on a ship to keep from doing what the Lord said to do. Therefore, the Lord sent a storm against that ship, but when the sailors found out why they were in the storm—because Jonah was fleeing the presence of the Lord—and when they discovered the way out of the storm, which was to throw Jonah overboard—they would not do it.

They could not bring themselves to throw a man overboard, especially during a storm. Watch then, what they tried to do,

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them (Jonah 1.13).

The Creator of storms sent the bad weather. Therefore, those experienced sailors could not do anything to escape the storm. Rowing against a God-sent storm is like rowing against God. It cannot be done. Period.

It is better to row with Him, which they did eventually and they found peace.