Why port and starboard - an explaination

[foxfai]

 

[SwamOffStrong]

Thanks, that’s neat.  Looks like the dictionary geeks are now challenging whether the word “posh” really originated from “port outbound, starboard home”: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/posh-history-and-meaning

[Good2Go]

Or, "right" has more letters than "left". Hence starboard and port. Duh. Course that would make a lousy UTube  video. 

[JoeyZac]

Well, if you're looking for an easy way to remember it.............

 

Red, Port and Left are the 3 little words.

 

Green, Right and Starboard are the 3 big words.

[Good2Go]

Except red is on starboard side returning. "Red right return". Don't confuse me! 

[beret]

If you have a question about the colors of your running lights regard to Colregs.....or red right returning.......please stay off the water. I do not want you on the same body of water I am sailing.......

[HJS]

On 2/12/2021 at 7:12 PM, Good2Go said:

Except red is on starboard side returning. "Red right return". Don't confuse me! 

Yep... the 3 Rs, Red, Right Return when returning to port (aka: take-out)  .

[Schooner Fred]

But whether they are green to port and red to starboard or the opposite depends entirely upon what region of the world you are navigating. The IALA established two regions: Region A and Region B.

Region A consists of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, parts of Africa and most of Asia. When entering a harbor in this region, marks to port are red and marks to starboard are green.

Region B consists of North America, Central America and South America, plus the Philippines, Japan and Korea. When entering a harbor in this region, marks to port are green and marks to starboard are red (red, right, return!).

[Good2Go]

I'll remember that if I ever get blown off course and end up fishing for cod in the North Sea! 

[ScottO]

Left, Port = LP, Port wine is red

[beret]

8 hours ago, ScottO said:

Left, Port = LP, Port wine is red

Good generality......but the more sophisticated wine person would have a problem........there is "white" port.......

[ScottO]

10 hours ago, beret said:

Good generality......but the more sophisticated wine person would have a problem........there is "white" port.......

I Was five, who knew at five there was white port

[JoeyZac]

On 2/12/2021 at 7:08 PM, JoeyZac said:

Well, if you're looking for an easy way to remember it.............

 

Red, Port and Left are the 3 little words.

 

Green, Right and Starboard are the 3 big words.

 

On 2/12/2021 at 7:12 PM, Good2Go said:

Except red is on starboard side returning. "Red right return". Don't confuse me! 

 

On 2/15/2021 at 11:25 AM, HJS said:

Yep... the 3 Rs, Red, Right Return when returning to port (aka: take-out)  .

 

I'm talking about your boat.  Your red light, port, and Left, are all the same side.

 

And red-right-return is not correct in all cases.  Traveling east-west, yes, but traveling north-south, it's a 50/50.

[speedwell]

Just as an aside, on a really hot summer day a glass of white port mixed with tonic water is rather refreshing (Portugese thing)

[msrief]

On 2/12/2021 at 7:12 PM, Good2Go said:

Except red is on starboard side returning. "Red right return". Don't confuse me! 

There are those who think it is "black coming back"??