The phrase "astern by" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the position or movement of an object or ship in relation to something else. Example: The ship slowly moved astern by the towboat's powerful engine, making its way back to the harbor.
In second, about 35 miles astern, is Team Adventure, skippered by the American Cam Lewis.
Captain Salmond rushed on deck and ordered the anchor to be dropped, the quarter-boats to be lowered, and a turn astern to be given by the engines.
At 4 11 pm Lion observed the track of a torpedo fired by Moltke pass astern, but it was thought that the torpedo was fired by a U-boat on the disengaged side.
The wing propeller shafts were powered by high pressure ahead and astern turbines, while the inboard shafts were powered by low pressure turbines.
The Americans slipped behind the committee boat with Prada just astern to take the start by seven seconds.
It takes a solo sailor like Nichols to convey so vividly what no Internet dispatch can: the unmoored passage of time and space while sailors are alone at sea. "When they head out upon the deep," Nichols writes, "the constructs of society soon drop astern and they are surrounded by shooting stars overhead, phosphorescence in their wakes and heaving shapes all around them in the sea and sky".
Leg 4 started Monday afternoon from Norfolk, and by yesterday afternoon, Ecover, skippered by Mike Golding, had taken a slim one-mile lead on Kingfisher, skippered by Nick Moloney, with Gartmore, skippered by Josh Hall, 19 miles astern and the all-female team aboard AlphaGraphics 35 miles behind.
I will have to up my game.' The sun was out and a number of sporting legends watched from the royal box, including an array of footballing knights and oarsmen Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent, who, unusually, were sitting side by side rather line astern.
The ship was armed with a main battery of six 15 cm L/40 guns all mounted individually in sponsons, with two side by side forward, two astern, and one amidships on each broadside.
