Starboard for Dummies

Starboard is a nautical term that describes the right-hand side of a ship or boat when you are facing towards the front, which is called the bow. When you're sailing or cruising on a ship, the starboard side is the side that is opposite to the left side, also known as the port side. Imagine you're standing on a boat and looking ahead, the starboard side is the side that is to your right, like the right side of your body.

Now, the word "starboard" has another meaning as well. It can also refer to the specific area or section on a boat or ship located on the right-hand side. Ships often have different rooms and compartments, and one of those compartments might be called the starboard. It's like a designated area or space on the ship's right side.

Let me give you an analogy to help you understand it better. Think of a car that you're driving. When you turn the steering wheel to the right, which side does the car go towards? That's right, it goes towards the right side, just like turning towards the starboard side of a ship. And in a car, we have the driver's seat on the left-hand side, so you can think of it as if you're the captain of the ship sitting in the driver's seat on the port side, and your shipmate is sitting in the passenger seat on the starboard side.

In simple terms, starboard is the right side of a ship or boat when you're facing forward, and it can also refer to a specific area on that right side. Just remember, whenever you see or hear the word "starboard," you can think of it as the right-hand side of a ship, just like the right side of your body.