this post was submitted on 27 May 2025
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Between "port" "starboard" "right" and "left" only two of the words have the same number of letters.
Left = Port
For the once per year I have to think about this, that's my mnemonic.
A related more general mnemonic works for the running lights too. Red has fewer letters than green, so it goes with left which has fewer letters than right and port which has fewer letters than starboard.
When you are standing in the center of the boat looking forward just remember. Boats are like women! They have PmS! Port (on the left), me (in the middle), Starboard (on the right)!
You can also face forward and imagine the word "PISS" in the water.
Is that supposed to be an acronym? "Port Isn't Starboard, Stupid?"
You could just imagine "PS", but I guess piss helps.
That's actually rarely the case in my experience. Generally, I mean.
I still remember the pneumonic for “pool” in Spanish that a high school classmate came up with: La Piscina — Piss in a pool.
Fo you have any mnemonics for aft, fore, stern and bow?
In German After is a scientific name for anus, so that's the back of the boat. Hope that helps
I remember "bow" from that scene in Karate Kid where Mr. Miyagi shook the boat and made Daniel fall in the water.