A method of controlling a watercraft having a drive which can be pivoted about a control angle. A maximum adjustable control angle is automatically reduced by a defined gradient with an increasing speed. The drive is configured as a surface drive comprising at least two drive units, and the drive units are adjusted in the vertical direction about a trim angle (T) in a pre-adjustable automatic operating mode (301). During a driving mode in which the maximum speed is reached, once the control angle (σ) exceeds a first threshold angle (σ—41) which is smaller than the maximum adjustable control angle σ_L), the adjustment of trim angle (T) exits the automatic operating mode (301) and enters a stand-by operating mode (300) in which the trim angle (T) is manually adjusted until the control angle (σ) falls below a second threshold control angle (σ—42) and the automatic operating mode (301) is re-activated.