Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

Re:Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left”... by bckygldstn on Tuesday April 18, 2023 @08:19PM (#35622481)

> stage left / stage right

Outdoor recreation often uses climbers left/right and skiers left/right (even when there's no rock or snow) to orient direction relative to slope, which is similarly descriptive and clear to those who haven't heard the terms before.

Except for rivers, where True Left and True Right are commonly used in New Zealand for hiking and kayaking, and I can never remember which way round they go!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left”... by wldcordeiro on Wednesday April 19, 2023 @12:57AM (#35624393)

I hear skiers left/right or looker's left/right often. Usually looker's is said while on the lift or the base of the mountain.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left”... by themeiguoren on Wednesday April 19, 2023 @08:25AM (#35627257)

Climber’s right doesn’t make sense to me as distinguished from looker’s right, since both perform the named activity facing the slope.

[ Parent | on HN ]