Yourbestsail · video

What this video covers

The terms "port" and "starboard" trace to Old Norse nautical vocabulary used by Viking-era sailors.0:23 "Starboard" derives from the Norse *styribordi* — *stiri* meaning rudder or oar, *bordi* meaning side — because early vessels were steered by a steering oar mounted on the right side of the hull.1:05 "Port" has a separate origin: because the steering oar occupied the right side, helmsmen turned their backs to the left side, making it the "back side" (*backboard* in the intermediate form), which in Spanish became *babor*.1:07 English, however, adopted "port" for the left side because ships could only dock on that side — the steering oar on the right prevented it — so the left became the side presented to the harbor (*puerto*).2:04 The Spanish *estribor* and English "starboard" both descend from the same Norse root, while "port" and *babor* diverged: one named for the harbor, the other for the helmsman's back.

More from Yourbestsail

The function of the centerboardAug 2026Marinas and Yacht Clubs: ProceduresAug 2026The 10 most common mistakes when docking a boatJun 2026Anchoring: wave diffractionJun 2026

From Yourbestsail — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.