Q 01/05

When facing the bow of a boat, which side is starboard?

A) Right

B) Windward

C) Leeward

D) Left

Answer · why

A) Right

Right. Starboard comes from the Old English steorbord, the steering side, because ships were once steered with an oar hung over that side.

Q 02/05

Which colour navigation light does a boat show on its port side?

A) White

B) Blue

C) Green

D) Red

Answer · why

D) Red

The rule of thumb is that a red port light tells the other skipper "you must give way".

Q 03/05

What word did the Royal Navy use for the left side of a ship before 1844?

A) Larboard

B) Leeboard

C) Steerboard

D) Backboard

Answer · why

A) Larboard

Larboard. It was too easily confused with starboard, so the Admiralty ordered 'port' to be used instead, and the US Navy followed suit two years later...

Q 04/05

A knot is a speed of one what per hour?

A) Nautical mile

B) Statute mile

C) Kilometre

D) League

Answer · why

A) Nautical mile

Nautical mile. It is about 15% longer than a land mile and matches one minute of latitude on a chart, which is why ships and aircraft still navigate b...

Q 05/05

The knot takes its name from what speed-measuring device sailors threw over the stern?

A) A lead line

B) A patent log

C) A sounding rod

D) A chip log

Answer · why

D) A chip log

A chip log. The wooden board stayed put in the water while the ship sailed on, and sailors counted the knots in its line that ran out before a sand-gl...