Posted by Martin Honor on June 23, 2013 at 11:36:44 user MartinH.
In Reply to: Right / Left posted by Ed Kiser on June 22, 2013 at 07:43:11:
The "kkep right" rule dates back to when boats were steered by an oar over the quarter rather than a rudder hung on the centre-line at the stern.
The steering oar, by convention, was mounted on the right side of the boat. This became known as Starboard, a corruption of steerboard. To avoid damage to the oar that side was kept away from the quayside. So the leftside of the boat was alongside the port. This also accounts for the old term of "larboard", derived from "ladebord" or loading board.
What does thios have to do with keeping tot he right? Again to avoid damage to the vital steering oar vessels would pass port to port, or keep to the right. As Tom Napier points out this convention has carried on into the International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea. Normally, for vessels in sight of each other, the give way vessel alters course to starboard. If you examine the sailing rules this is even the case when boats on opposite tacks meet: a port-tack boat, as give way vessel will alter to starboard, or tack completely to keep clear.