Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

Board » General Discussion » VMG

Page: 1 2 Next

the VMG you can see (under Boat speed) in polar diagram, is that generated against last destination or which waypoint?

Pls explain how this VMG is calculated.

--- Last Edited by larx at 2008-11-30 10:59:49 ---
The VMG value is the boat speed in relation to the direction of the wind.

Its calculated with this formula:
"speed*(cos(twa))"

//Göran
Yes, ok. But to which point? Next waypoint to follow?. I mean in order to calculate VMG you need two points to calculate to and from. One is my currnt position, but the second?
As I understand it and according to the formula, you don't. VMG is "way made good" in relation to the wind direction or the angle to the wind, twa. So you don't need two positions, only boat speed and twa.

Though I guess you need two positions or a course to calculate VMC, "way made good to course" or something like that, but I don't know the formula for it.

//Göran
OK. What I (and maybe larx) don`t understand is if the VMG is 2kn and my boat speed could be 4kn (if different course). Then I mean this has to refer to a certain waypoint.
VMG is velocity made good _against_ _the_ _wind_.
VMG is velocity made good _against_ _the_ _wind_.
.
.
.
Think that clears it up... but if you really want, imagine a mark in the direction of the wind at your current location, VMG is speed towards that mark. -ve VMG is towards a mark downwind, +ve VMG towards a mark upwind.

--- Last Edited by 6times7 at 2008-12-05 19:13:05 ---

--- Last Edited by 6times7 at 2008-12-05 19:13:26 ---
Do any have the formula for VMC? Or could you calk. it by change the TWA to the dir. to mark.

Rolf

EDIT: I found it. Its COS(angel of your boats directions) * Speed
or COS(60) * 5 = 2.50 knots made north (vmg)
if mark is N (360) and you sail 60 deg. in 5 kn.

And BTW VMG is "Velocity made good"

--- Last Edited by HolidayTours at 2008-12-09 13:44:57 ---

--- Last Edited by HolidayTours at 2008-12-09 13:47:36 ---
Hi
If you want to calculate your speed component parallell to the wind direction, here called VMG you simply use VMG=boat_speed*cos(TWA). Yes, you need the cosinus and you need to make sure that you and your calculator use the same units, e.g. degrees for the TWA. You can test that by verifying that cos(90)=1.

The boat speed relative to course VMC is somewhat more difficult to calculate. However, if one simplifies things and assume that YOU know what Course from boat To Target (CTT) you are interested in life is easy again. You can e.g. get CTT by using the ruler-tool in the game.

Now you need only to calculate your speed component parallell to CTT, lets call it VMC, which is almost as simple as VMG. If we define the boat course as CC you simply calculate VMC= boat_speed*cos(CTT-CC). Piece of cake :-) ... as long as you remember that the precision of these calculations decay with increades distance between boat and target. Also, negative VMG & VMC means that you are heading away from target.

Note:
The advanced reader might observe that the VMG-calculation is nothing but a special case of the more general VMC-calculation, where CTT=-TWD and thus the TWA=-TWD-CC.

/Jakob
...one of the guys behind the game...
Thanks Jacob

Now we know ho to calculate the VMC. But to find out the best one you need to do a lot of calculatens in different directons (or). As your boatspeed is different (as the polar shows)at differents angel. I.e if you do 5kn with 55 deg to mark or you do 6.5 kn at 60 deg you had to calc both to find hos is fastest VMC.

Any easy way to do that?
/Rolf

--- Last Edited by HolidayTours at 2008-12-09 22:08:09 ---

Page: 1 2 Next

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

Fernando de Noronha to Faroe 2025

The RWW Series concludes with a spectacular journey from Fernando de Noronha to the Faroe Islands, a legendary destination in the wild North Atlantic. Panning 4,100 nautical miles, this leg will be a true test of endurance, strategy, and sheer determination. Also the penultimate leg of the 2025 Ocean Championship, it’s your chance to prove your mettle against the sea, the wind, and yourself. We’ll be racing aboard the Ragamuffin 100, a vessel built for speed and challenge — demanding planning, precision and grit from every sailor on deck. Do you have what it takes to master the Northern Atlantic?.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1960
INFO by brainaid.de
Ragamuffin 100 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RWW - OCQ4 - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Nov 03rd 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Mistli's Birthday BBQ Race 2025


Welcome to one of Sailonline's great traditions - the ofttimes slightly untimely celebration of SOLer Mistli's birthday on November 1, by way of a tricky race through the Stockholm Archipelago. To match the day that’s in it, this year correctly, we are providing you with a fleet of sleek 11 metre 1-designs (get it?) to slice through these (at least) 61.5nm of SLI-infested waters, and give you a fair chance that there will still be some beer left by the time you moor up by the jetty at Trosa!
Race #1947
INFO by brainaid.de
11m OD PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
RACE CLOSE: Wednesday,
November 5 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Nov 01st 14:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

ORCV Melbourne to Devonport Race 2025

Welcome to the legendary Rudder Cup, Australia’s oldest and most storied yacht race—sailed for over 110 years across the challenging Bass Strait from Melbourne to Tasmania. Organized by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, this 195nm classic tests sailors’ skill, strategy, and endurance against the unpredictable Southern Ocean. This year, our SOLers will be racing the timeless Swan 36, Nautor’s very first production yacht—a Sparkman & Stephens masterpiece renowned for her elegance, balance, and seaworthy performance. Get ready for a true ocean racing adventure!
Race #1951
INFO by brainaid.de
Swan 36 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
November 8 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Oct 31st 03:30 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Sinbad by Balloon 2025 - Carnarvon to Dondra


From here, our home in Bharatavarṣa is now north west of us – said Sinbad to his fellow balloonists. Perhaps we can ride the wind first further north, and then catch the winds that every year bring the rain, perhaps not. It’s 2600nm and we could be aloft awhile, so, Master el-Quarters, victuals only, no sandbags, provisioning the giant hamper. It will be not a picnic!
Race #1886
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - SBB
Race starts: Oct 15th 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client