Race Strategy

VMG (Velocity Made Good)

Speed measured toward the next mark, not through the water.

VMG stands for Velocity Made Good — the component of your boat speed measured directly toward the next mark, rather than through the water. Going upwind, VMG depends on both boat speed and pointing angle. Sailing high and slow can have the same VMG as sailing low and fast. Modern instruments calculate VMG in real time and let sailors optimize trim for the best progress to the mark.