Which statement is true about mooring port side to with wind from astern?

Which statement is true about mooring port side to with wind from astern?

• A. Port side to means the left side of the boat is toward the pier
• B. Port side to means the right side of the boat is toward the pier
• C. Port side to means the bow is toward the pier
• D. Port side to means the stern is toward the pier

Answer: (A)

Port side to means the left side of the boat is against the pier. Port is the name for the left side when you’re facing the bow, so when you’re moored port side to, the dock runs along that left-hand side. The other ideas don’t fit: having the right side against the pier would be starboard to, having the bow toward the pier would be a bow-in orientation rather than a side-to, and having the stern toward the pier would be stern-to, not port side to. With wind from astern, the wind pushes along the length of the boat from back to front, which can affect how the lines take strain, but it doesn’t change which side is described as touching the dock.

Port side to means the left side of the boat is against the pier. Port is the name for the left side when you’re facing the bow, so when you’re moored port side to, the dock runs along that left-hand side. The other ideas don’t fit: having the right side against the pier would be starboard to, having the bow toward the pier would be a bow-in orientation rather than a side-to, and having the stern toward the pier would be stern-to, not port side to. With wind from astern, the wind pushes along the length of the boat from back to front, which can affect how the lines take strain, but it doesn’t change which side is described as touching the dock.