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Cord attaching boat's stern to port, say (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

twine

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'cord' is the definition.
(twine is a kind of cord)

'attaching boat's stern to port say' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'port say' could be 'wine' (port is a kind of wine) and 'wine' is found in the answer.
A single letter 't' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for twine that I've seen before include "Tough string" , "Strong thread or string" , "Interweave" , "Thin cord" , "String, cord" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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