What does VMG stand for?[spacer height=”5px”]
Send your answer to cruisingcompass@bwsailing.com. The winner, selected randomly from correct answers, will receive a Blue Water Sailing hat.[spacer height=”10px”]
Thanks to last week’s winner, Benjamin White, for the correct answer to the question: “In the diagram on the right which line indicates the LOA of this boat? (top, middle, bottom)”[spacer height=”10px”]
I appreciated Benjamin’s thorough answer. He notes that Offshore Racing Rules define LOA as the length overall of a boat to be 
measured to include the whole hull, but not spars or projections fixed to the hull such as chainplates, bowsprits, boomkins, pulpits, etc. IMS, PHRF, and most rating authorities tend to agree. Given that, the middle line is the best representation. Of course marinas have come to include pulpits, sprits, etc. as it does affect the overall length which is relevant with slip and mooring size which is probably more often pertinent to most cruising sailors. This would be represented by the bottom line.
measured to include the whole hull, but not spars or projections fixed to the hull such as chainplates, bowsprits, boomkins, pulpits, etc. IMS, PHRF, and most rating authorities tend to agree. Given that, the middle line is the best representation. Of course marinas have come to include pulpits, sprits, etc. as it does affect the overall length which is relevant with slip and mooring size which is probably more often pertinent to most cruising sailors. This would be represented by the bottom line.
