Capt. Neal® wrote:
Of course I know the answer, I know everything worth knowing.

I'm just waiting to see how long it takes for somebody else
to answer the question for once.

Last chance Neal, before I post the answer. BTW, in answer to your
claim that the Colregs did not exist before 1972, both the 1889 and 1948
versions were called the "Collision Regulations."

Here's a tidbit from the early rules:
In the 1800's there were various steering arrangements leading to
confusion when issuing orders. The 1889 rules clarified this with:

Article 32. All orders to the helmsman shall be given as follows:
"Right Rudder" to mean "Direct the vessel's head to starboard."
"Left Rudder" to mean "Direct the vessel's head to port."

For some reason, in 1948 they changed the wording to:

RULE 32
All orders to helmsmen shall be given in the following sense:
right rudder or starboard to mean "put the vessel's rudder to
starboard;" left rudder or port to mean "put the vessel's rudder to port."

This rule was dropped in 1972.

Recently, I've heard the claim that there was confusion of the bridge of
the Titanic because the wheel worked in reverse and thus the commands
were ambiguous. Given the attempt to standardize was 20 years earlier,
it seems a bit unlikely.