this post was submitted on 27 May 2025
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[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 54 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

It took me until this year to realize the port and starboard referred to what the ship was touching when docked. The left side goes to the port, the other side faces the stars.

I felt so dumb that I had completed Black Flag 3 times and never picked up on this.

[–] iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 79 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Port used to be called larboard, and starboard is called that because it comes from middle English for "steering side", essentially. Not actually anything to do with stars. But the port thing is true, they had to dock to port on the left because of the steering oars.

[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 14 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

In German it's still "Steuerbord", "Steering board"

[–] Lifter@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Why would the stars only be to the right? Would the ship start tilting when you haul all the loot into port?

[–] Nalivai@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

There is no stars over land, because gravity makes them all fall down, so they know to avoid it