Hi guys, another cat n00b comes looking for knowledge...and hopefully another hull sometime soon.

After reading the discussion of measuring VMG vs. plotting polars, one would think those to be apples and oranges: VMG is measured with respect to a fixed point such as a mark, while in a polar we need to know course vs. that fickle wind direction. To plot decent polars, one should measure the direction and speed of the wind coming at the vessel. Wireless wind buoy? Seems insane, but the components would cost less than that Nauteek thing. Dealing with the difference in wind speed and direction between a buoy and a boat would be a problem though.

A question is, what would be more valuable in improving one's technique: Ordinary GPS showing VMG to a given waypoint, or a comparison of one's boatspeed to a polar?