What object appears to move in different directions from different viewpoints?

[Jimmy Snyder]

When seen from the left side of the boat it goes toward the rear.
When seen from the right side of the boat it goes toward the front.
When seen from behind the boat it goes toward the right side.
What is it?

 

[Rahmuss]

The sail, or the bench?

 

[nnnnnnnn]

the sun? ..

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

No and no. If you really think you have the right answer, you should color it white as follows:

[ COLOR=white]answer

But without the space between [ and C. Does someone know the right way to escape the initial [?

 

[AKG]

The boat, heading towards its own right side.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Nope. Try again?

 

[matthyaouw]

when you say it goes to the rear/front/right, are you talking relative to the boat, or to the observer?

 

[Huckleberry]

The propeller? The shaft that it connects to?

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

when you say it goes to the rear/front/right, are you talking relative to the boat, or to the observer?

Relative to the boat.

 

[BicycleTree]

The rotating radar[/color]

 

[gerben]

Starboard?[/color]

 

[marcus]

Your own right hand[/color]

 

[BicycleTree]

Your own right hand[/color]

Aw, that's a good one, but it would suck if that's the answer because which way you are facing does not depend on which side of the boat you're on.

 

[Huckleberry]

Great answer marcus. Does it have to be a part of the boat? If not, then marcus has a correct answer.

 

[JamesU]

Wow, someone in the brainteasers forum actually replies to responses

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Nope. It's a part of the boat.

As I reread it, I see that even though the riddle is perfectly ok the way I wrote it, what I meant was slightly different than what I wrote.

What I really meant is when you are standing to the left of the boat, you see it going toward the rear, when you are standing to the right of the boat, you see it going toward the front, and when you are standing behind the boat, you see it going toward the right.

Here's a small hint (but not much help). It doesn't move relative to the boat.

 

[Huckleberry]

Is it a sailing ship?
Why do I get the feeling that the answer will be disappointing.
--->The jib?<---

 

[DaveC426913]

The correct answer: The name / ID number!

 

[Huckleberry]

LOL, I like it.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Of course you are right. Congratulations.

 

[AntonVrba]

Not true, here in the UAE the name and ID number go to the front, rear and left.

Arabic writing as some others is from right to left

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

The answer is correct. You need to expand your view of the world to include the possibility that the boat happens not to be Egyptian.