Honestly, yeah. That’s what I relied on as well and what was taught to me. Also what I then taught to the people under me. I have no other real way of understanding it. I know why we use port/starboard but I’ve never looked into why port/starboard are the words we’ve stuck with.
IIRC, it was because the tiller for the rudder (with which you steer) was on the right side. (Styrbord in Swedish = steer board) As to why you have port in English, I have no idea. It’s babord in Swedish, from bakbord (back board) as when steering, the left side was behind you.
Edit: Apparently it’s port because you’d dock with the left side to the port as otherwise you’d crush the rudder, which again was on the right.
My grandfather was a bomber pilot and he always remembered it by picturing himself flying north along the east coast, where all the ports would be on the left.
Lights on large vehicles (both sea and sky) always have red on the left and green on the right so that people can tell which direction you’re facing even if it’s too dark to see the vehicle itself
I always remember that port and left both are the shorter word, and have the same number of letters.
Do we have any red port wine left?
There’s only a right way to find out
Honestly, yeah. That’s what I relied on as well and what was taught to me. Also what I then taught to the people under me. I have no other real way of understanding it. I know why we use port/starboard but I’ve never looked into why port/starboard are the words we’ve stuck with.
That’s easy. We use ‘port’ because that’s the left side, and ‘starboard’ because that’s the other side of the boat.
No, no. No need to thank me. I’m just one humble man trading information gleaned from a long life of learning.
IIRC, it was because the tiller for the rudder (with which you steer) was on the right side. (Styrbord in Swedish = steer board) As to why you have port in English, I have no idea. It’s babord in Swedish, from bakbord (back board) as when steering, the left side was behind you.
Edit: Apparently it’s port because you’d dock with the left side to the port as otherwise you’d crush the rudder, which again was on the right.
My grandfather was a bomber pilot and he always remembered it by picturing himself flying north along the east coast, where all the ports would be on the left.
Did he never have to fly back?
In his mind’s eye he could fly north forever.
That’s essentially how I always remember it. Port and left both have 4 letters.
How do you explain red?
I dunno if the color has anything to do with it necessary. Maybe it does but I’m no seamen.
Lights on large vehicles (both sea and sky) always have red on the left and green on the right so that people can tell which direction you’re facing even if it’s too dark to see the vehicle itself
The more you know! I guess I have seen it. I just never really connected the dots there
The H is both silent and invisible
By not boating at night
I just think of “PS” like in a letter.
Also, the old name for “port” is “larboard”, which starts with an L for left.
and even, as in even numbers.
Port, left, even…all words an even number of letters Starboard, right, odd…all words are an odd number of letters.
Port is short. My BIL taught me that this summer!
Starbucks is always on the right side of the road!