{"id":6289,"date":"2023-05-10T09:43:52","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T09:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/?p=6289"},"modified":"2025-10-08T13:45:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T13:45:00","slug":"how-to-remember-port-and-starboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/how-to-remember-port-and-starboard\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Remember Port and Starboard When Learning to Sail.  Is Port Left or Right?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"874\" data-end=\"981\">How to remember Port and Starboard? If you&#8217;re new to sailing, one of the first things you&#8217;ll hear is:<br data-start=\"939\" data-end=\"942\" \/><strong data-start=\"942\" data-end=\"981\">\u201cPort is left. Starboard is right.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"983\" data-end=\"1243\">But remembering which is which\u2014especially under pressure\u2014can take some getting used to. Whether you&#8217;re learning to sail for the first time or taking an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/rya-courses\/competent-crew\"><strong data-start=\"1135\" data-end=\"1164\">RYA Competent Crew course<\/strong><\/a>, knowing your port from your starboard is a basic skill you\u2019ll use constantly.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1245\" data-end=\"1425\">This guide will help you <strong data-start=\"1270\" data-end=\"1326\">understand the difference between port and starboard<\/strong>, explain <strong data-start=\"1336\" data-end=\"1362\">why we use these terms<\/strong>, and show you <strong data-start=\"1377\" data-end=\"1424\">easy tricks to remember which side is which<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knowing the difference between between the two, whether port is left or right, and whether starboard is left or right is one of the first things we teach you when you come for sailing lessons with us. Port refers to the left side of the boat, while starboard is the right hand side. It important that you can remember which side is which, as port and starboard terminology will be used in emergency situations, or when you communicate with other crew members and boats<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"1432\" data-end=\"1480\">\ud83d\udd0d Which Side Is Port and Which Is Starboard?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1482\" data-end=\"1510\">Let\u2019s start with the basics:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1512\" data-end=\"1681\">\n<li data-start=\"1512\" data-end=\"1601\">\n<p data-start=\"1514\" data-end=\"1601\"><strong data-start=\"1514\" data-end=\"1522\">Port<\/strong> is the <strong data-start=\"1530\" data-end=\"1548\">left-hand side<\/strong> of a boat <strong data-start=\"1559\" data-end=\"1582\">when facing forward<\/strong> (towards the bow).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1602\" data-end=\"1681\">\n<p data-start=\"1604\" data-end=\"1681\"><strong data-start=\"1604\" data-end=\"1617\">Starboard<\/strong> is the <strong data-start=\"1625\" data-end=\"1644\">right-hand side<\/strong> of the boat <strong data-start=\"1657\" data-end=\"1680\">when facing forward<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1683\" data-end=\"1821\">These terms are fixed and <strong data-start=\"1709\" data-end=\"1756\">don\u2019t change based on where you\u2019re standing or which direction you are facing<\/strong>\u2014they are used to avoid confusion when giving directions onboard.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6291\" style=\"width: 584px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6291\" class=\"wp-image-6291\" src=\"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/port-vs-starboard.jpg\" alt=\"How to Remember Port and Starboard\" width=\"574\" height=\"574\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/port-vs-starboard.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/port-vs-starboard-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/port-vs-starboard-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/port-vs-starboard-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 574px) 100vw, 574px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6291\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Correct terminology to show the different sides of a yacht<\/p><\/div>\n<hr data-start=\"1823\" data-end=\"1826\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"1828\" data-end=\"1873\">\ud83e\udde0 Easy Ways to Remember Port vs Starboard<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1875\" data-end=\"2033\">Many people search for an <strong data-start=\"1901\" data-end=\"1944\">easy way to remember port and starboard<\/strong> \u2014 and there are a few memory tricks that work really well when you&#8217;re just starting out.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2035\" data-end=\"2071\">\u2705 1. <strong data-start=\"2044\" data-end=\"2071\">Port = Left (4 letters)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2072\" data-end=\"2099\">This is the simplest trick:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2100\" data-end=\"2208\">\n<li data-start=\"2100\" data-end=\"2138\">\n<p data-start=\"2102\" data-end=\"2138\">The word <strong data-start=\"2111\" data-end=\"2119\">PORT<\/strong> has <strong data-start=\"2124\" data-end=\"2137\">4 letters<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2139\" data-end=\"2208\">\n<p data-start=\"2141\" data-end=\"2208\">The word <strong data-start=\"2150\" data-end=\"2158\">LEFT<\/strong> also has <strong data-start=\"2168\" data-end=\"2181\">4 letters<\/strong>.<br data-start=\"2182\" data-end=\"2185\" \/>\u2192 So, <strong data-start=\"2191\" data-end=\"2207\">Port is Left<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"2210\" data-end=\"2262\">\u2705 2. <strong data-start=\"2219\" data-end=\"2262\">Red Port Left (Navigation Lights Trick)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2263\" data-end=\"2295\">Boats use <strong data-start=\"2273\" data-end=\"2294\">navigation lights<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2296\" data-end=\"2358\">\n<li data-start=\"2296\" data-end=\"2323\">\n<p data-start=\"2298\" data-end=\"2323\"><strong data-start=\"2298\" data-end=\"2323\">Port side = Red light<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2324\" data-end=\"2358\">\n<p data-start=\"2326\" data-end=\"2358\"><strong data-start=\"2326\" data-end=\"2358\">Starboard side = Green light<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2360\" data-end=\"2382\">Think of the phrase:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"2383\" data-end=\"2430\">\n<p data-start=\"2385\" data-end=\"2430\"><strong data-start=\"2385\" data-end=\"2430\">\u201cThere\u2019s no red port left in the bottle.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"2432\" data-end=\"2456\">This helps you remember:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2457\" data-end=\"2506\">\n<li data-start=\"2457\" data-end=\"2478\">\n<p data-start=\"2459\" data-end=\"2478\">Red = Port = Left<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2479\" data-end=\"2506\">\n<p data-start=\"2481\" data-end=\"2506\">Starboard = Green = Right<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2508\" data-end=\"2628\">If you\u2019ve ever passed port wine at a dinner table, it\u2019s traditionally passed to the <strong data-start=\"2592\" data-end=\"2600\">left<\/strong>, which reinforces the idea.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2630\" data-end=\"2672\">\u2705 3. <strong data-start=\"2639\" data-end=\"2672\">Starboard Has Two R\u2019s = Right<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"2673\" data-end=\"2778\">\n<li data-start=\"2673\" data-end=\"2719\">\n<p data-start=\"2675\" data-end=\"2719\">The word <strong data-start=\"2684\" data-end=\"2697\">staRboaRd<\/strong> contains <strong data-start=\"2707\" data-end=\"2718\">two R\u2019s<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2720\" data-end=\"2778\">\n<p data-start=\"2722\" data-end=\"2749\">That\u2019s a cue to remember:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"2752\" data-end=\"2778\">\n<p data-start=\"2754\" data-end=\"2778\"><strong data-start=\"2754\" data-end=\"2778\">\u201cStarboard is Right\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"2780\" data-end=\"2813\">\u2705 4. <strong data-start=\"2789\" data-end=\"2813\">The Ship\u2019s Left Port<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2814\" data-end=\"2835\">Another clever one:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"2836\" data-end=\"2935\">\n<p data-start=\"2838\" data-end=\"2935\"><strong data-start=\"2838\" data-end=\"2864\">\u201cThe ship\u2019s left port\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 as in, it departed.<br data-start=\"2886\" data-end=\"2889\" \/>This phrase helps link <strong data-start=\"2912\" data-end=\"2920\">left<\/strong> with <strong data-start=\"2926\" data-end=\"2934\">port<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr data-start=\"2937\" data-end=\"2940\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"2942\" data-end=\"3009\">\u2693 Why Do Boats Use Port and Starboard Instead of Left and Right?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3011\" data-end=\"3031\">A common question:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"3032\" data-end=\"3075\">\n<p data-start=\"3034\" data-end=\"3075\"><strong data-start=\"3034\" data-end=\"3075\">Why can\u2019t we just say left and right?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"3077\" data-end=\"3230\">Here\u2019s the answer: On a boat, people face in different directions. So if the skipper says &#8220;turn right,&#8221; does that mean <strong data-start=\"3196\" data-end=\"3210\">your right<\/strong> or <strong data-start=\"3214\" data-end=\"3229\">their right<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3232\" data-end=\"3288\">By using <strong data-start=\"3241\" data-end=\"3263\">the correct terminology for left and right<\/strong>, there\u2019s no confusion.<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3289\" data-end=\"3364\">\n<li data-start=\"3289\" data-end=\"3335\">\n<p data-start=\"3291\" data-end=\"3335\">Port is always left (when facing forward).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3336\" data-end=\"3364\">\n<p data-start=\"3338\" data-end=\"3364\">Starboard is always right.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3366\" data-end=\"3402\">This is especially important during:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3403\" data-end=\"3540\">\n<li data-start=\"3403\" data-end=\"3424\">\n<p data-start=\"3405\" data-end=\"3424\">Mooring and docking<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3425\" data-end=\"3447\">\n<p data-start=\"3427\" data-end=\"3447\">Emergency situations<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3448\" data-end=\"3492\">\n<p data-start=\"3450\" data-end=\"3492\">Night sailing (when visibility is limited)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3493\" data-end=\"3540\">\n<p data-start=\"3495\" data-end=\"3540\">Sailing drills in <strong data-start=\"3513\" data-end=\"3540\">Competent Crew training<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr data-start=\"3542\" data-end=\"3545\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"3547\" data-end=\"3585\">\ud83d\udcdc The Origin of Port and Starboard<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3587\" data-end=\"3639\">Understanding the origins helps reinforce the terms:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3641\" data-end=\"3930\">\n<li data-start=\"3641\" data-end=\"3772\">\n<p data-start=\"3643\" data-end=\"3772\"><strong data-start=\"3643\" data-end=\"3656\">Starboard<\/strong> comes from the Old English word <em data-start=\"3689\" data-end=\"3700\">steorbord<\/em>, meaning the side the steering oar was on \u2014 usually the <strong data-start=\"3757\" data-end=\"3771\">right side<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3773\" data-end=\"3930\">\n<p data-start=\"3775\" data-end=\"3930\"><strong data-start=\"3775\" data-end=\"3783\">Port<\/strong> was the side used for docking, because you couldn\u2019t dock on the steering (starboard) side. So the <strong data-start=\"3882\" data-end=\"3895\">left side<\/strong> became known as the <strong data-start=\"3916\" data-end=\"3929\">port side<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3932\" data-end=\"3998\">Even after boats adopted rudders, the names remained standardised.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"4000\" data-end=\"4003\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"4005\" data-end=\"4047\">\ud83d\udedf How This Helps When Learning to Sail<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4049\" data-end=\"4199\">If you&#8217;re doing an <strong data-start=\"4068\" data-end=\"4097\">RYA Competent Crew course<\/strong>, or just taking your first steps into <strong data-start=\"4136\" data-end=\"4156\">learning to sail<\/strong>, you&#8217;ll need to know these terms early on.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4201\" data-end=\"4222\">They\u2019ll come up when:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"4223\" data-end=\"4416\">\n<li data-start=\"4223\" data-end=\"4278\">\n<p data-start=\"4225\" data-end=\"4278\">You\u2019re instructed to set fenders on the <strong data-start=\"4265\" data-end=\"4278\">port side<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4279\" data-end=\"4314\">\n<p data-start=\"4281\" data-end=\"4314\">You need to tack to <strong data-start=\"4301\" data-end=\"4314\">starboard<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4315\" data-end=\"4352\">\n<p data-start=\"4317\" data-end=\"4352\">You&#8217;re docking on the <strong data-start=\"4339\" data-end=\"4352\">port beam<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4353\" data-end=\"4416\">\n<p data-start=\"4355\" data-end=\"4416\">Practising a <strong data-start=\"4368\" data-end=\"4391\">man overboard drill<\/strong> with clear communication<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"4418\" data-end=\"4547\">As part of your training, these commands will become second nature\u2014but using the tricks above will get you off to a smooth start.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"4549\" data-end=\"4552\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"4554\" data-end=\"4594\">\u2753 FAQ: Remembering Port and Starboard<\/h2>\n<h3 data-start=\"4596\" data-end=\"4628\">\u27a4 <strong data-start=\"4602\" data-end=\"4628\">Is port left or right?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4629\" data-end=\"4683\"><strong data-start=\"4629\" data-end=\"4645\">Port is left<\/strong> when you&#8217;re facing forward on a boat.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4685\" data-end=\"4722\">\u27a4 <strong data-start=\"4691\" data-end=\"4722\">Is starboard left or right?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4723\" data-end=\"4794\"><strong data-start=\"4723\" data-end=\"4745\">Starboard is right<\/strong>, always when facing the bow (front) of the boat.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4796\" data-end=\"4860\">\u27a4 <strong data-start=\"4802\" data-end=\"4860\">What\u2019s the easiest way to remember port and starboard?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4861\" data-end=\"4872\">Remember:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"4873\" data-end=\"4976\">\n<li data-start=\"4873\" data-end=\"4916\">\n<p data-start=\"4875\" data-end=\"4916\"><strong data-start=\"4875\" data-end=\"4892\">Port and left<\/strong> both have <strong data-start=\"4903\" data-end=\"4916\">4 letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4917\" data-end=\"4940\">\n<p data-start=\"4919\" data-end=\"4940\"><strong data-start=\"4919\" data-end=\"4940\">Red = Port = Left<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4941\" data-end=\"4976\">\n<p data-start=\"4943\" data-end=\"4976\"><strong data-start=\"4943\" data-end=\"4976\">Starboard has two R\u2019s = Right<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"4978\" data-end=\"5022\">\u27a4 <strong data-start=\"4984\" data-end=\"5022\">Do port and starboard ever change?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"5023\" data-end=\"5132\">No. They are fixed references on all vessels. <strong data-start=\"5069\" data-end=\"5096\">Port is always the left<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"5098\" data-end=\"5131\">starboard is always the right<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"5134\" data-end=\"5137\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"5139\" data-end=\"5188\">\u26f5 Final Thoughts: Mastering Port and Starboard<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5190\" data-end=\"5411\">Learning port and starboard is one of the first steps in becoming a <strong data-start=\"5258\" data-end=\"5283\">confident crew member<\/strong>. Once you\u2019ve memorised which is which, you\u2019ll start to hear it everywhere: in commands, charts, radio calls, and safety drills.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5413\" data-end=\"5494\">Soon, you&#8217;ll stop asking <strong data-start=\"5438\" data-end=\"5466\">\u201cIs port left or right?\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 because you&#8217;ll just know.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"5496\" data-end=\"5499\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"5501\" data-end=\"5539\">\ud83c\udfaf Ready to Start Learning to Sail?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5541\" data-end=\"5769\">If you&#8217;re ready to get hands-on experience and build real skills, check out our <strong data-start=\"5621\" data-end=\"5659\">RYA Competent Crew sailing courses<\/strong>. They\u2019re perfect for beginners and will teach you everything you need to crew a yacht safely and confidently.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5771\" data-end=\"5868\">\ud83d\udd17 <a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/rya-courses\/competent-crew\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"5774\" data-end=\"5868\">Explore Competent Crew Courses<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Port_and_starboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">More information about Port and Starboard can be found here on Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Edited 8th October 2025<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to remember Port and Starboard? If you&#8217;re new to sailing, one of the first things you&#8217;ll hear is:\u201cPort is left. Starboard is right.\u201d But remembering which is which\u2014especially under pressure\u2014can take some getting used to. Whether you&#8217;re learning to sail for the first time or taking an RYA Competent Crew course, knowing your port [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[611,610,612],"class_list":["post-6289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learn-to-sail","tag-port","tag-port-and-starboard","tag-starboard"],"views":23649,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6289"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7279,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6289\/revisions\/7279"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}