Raymarine ST50 VMG (Close - Hauled) display - what does it do?

[ShaunMc]

I have recently purchased a yacht with a full set of Raymarine ST50 instruments. Perhaps a bit old but still good and useful.

Hoping this doesn't seem like a noddy question but can anyone tell me what the VMG display actually tells me? Google is pulling a bit of a blank on specific info. I think this is also the Close - Hauled display? Or is that another different instrument on the set? All connected kit appears to be working, or now at least I have got working - log, masthead unit, depth and other instruments.

And hopefully before I attract any condescending answers, I understand VMG obviously (or possibly not obviously!) but for a VMG readout I would expect to be based on either an intended course or a GPS way point.

So what is this instrument actually showing me?

TIA

 

[ShaunMc]

As a footnote, my question was as to what the needle tells me rather than the actual VMG to windward that the LCD display shows

 

[Quandary]

It is combining info from the speed and wind transducers to give you a display which tells you the optimum angle to steer to make progress to windward or downwind.

 

[Rafiki]

I thought it stood for "Velocity Made Good", in other words how fast are you travelling towards the waypoint. This of course is different from how fast are you actually travelling. I used it for the 1st time on a cruise this summer and it inevitably told me to bear away and get the boat speed up rather than heading more directly and more slowly towards the waypoint. I could be completely wrong of course!

 

[tudorsailor]

If you have no entered a waypoint then the VMG is the velocity made good to the wind alone.

Tudorsailor

 

[ShaunMc]

Thanks again folks ?

 

[ithet]

On the instrument the VMG is boat speed through the water with respect the wind direction. It is used for for beating into wind as you want to maximise this. It requires speed through water on Seatalk to give a VMG. It is not of use if you are not beating close hauled but then your VMG will your actual boat speed.

The pointer on the close hauled display is just an expanded wind direction scale.