Is there any option to this answer?
The townspeople launched the boat into the rough waters.
The direct object in the sentence is THE BOAT.
Direct object is recipient of the action or verb.
Subject + Verb + Direct Object (answers the question What? or Who?)
Subject : Townspeople
Verb: launched
The townspeople launched WHAT? The boat.
That pretty much it you just telling what you read bme- beginning middle end