Port Light

Captain Ted

Last week while instructing a Powerboat Cruising class, on the West coast of the USA, one of my student asked me, 'Captain Ted, how do you remember the colored lights that go on the Port and Starboard side of a vessel?

Easy I said, before asking the student if he likes a good glass of Port Wine at the end of a long day cruising the Pacific.......

I would never want to suggest that one drinks alcohol when boating but when safetly tied up in the marina my preferred tipple is a glass of good Tawny Vintage Port. One of the things I have notice over the years is once the cork has been pulled out of a new bottle it is best just to throw it away. The smoothness of the liquid that warms the belly has to be shared with all aboard,  making it very difficult indeed to not finish the bottle in a single sitting. So at the end of the night, just before retiring after a great day on the water - there is no red port left in the bottle!

This phrase is an the aid memoire to remember the left side of the vessel is the port side and at night if one is not made fast in the marina, or at anchor, any vessel making way will be displaying a red light to Port......

Captain Ted is a certified sailing and powerboat Instructor and Master, based on the USA Pacific Coast, teaching clients how to safely enjoying adventures afloat.