A new name is emerging in the high-performance sailing scene. It is VMG (an acronym for Velocity Made Good), a New York-based boatbuilder founded with the goal of bringing the most advanced technologies developed in the world of ocean-crossing trimarans to the market. The project takes shape with the VMG 53, an offshore cruising trimaran currently under construction in South Africa and scheduled for launch in January 2027. The vessel promises to combine speed, range, comfort, and ease of handling, bringing solutions that were once reserved for highly specialized niches to the general public.
The Idea for a New Shipyard is Born at Sea
The origins of VMG trace back to the open ocean during an offshore race along the New England coast. It was there that Michael Schwartz and Karl Reed, now co-founders of the company, met as members of the same crew. After a particularly demanding passage, their conversation shifted to a question as simple as it was ambitious: is it possible to design a boat capable of combining speed, comfort, safety, and ease of handling without sacrificing any of these elements? That reflection sparked a journey that, within a few years, transformed into a concrete industrial project.
To develop their vision, Schwartz and Reed brought on board some of the most respected professionals in the international marine industry. Three years ago, the project took shape in Cape Town, South Africa, where the initial idea progressively evolved into the VMG 53 currently under construction.
The two founders bring complementary skill sets to the table. Michael Schwartz boasts over twenty-five years of experience in product development, industrial manufacturing, and scaling companies across various manufacturing sectors. Meanwhile, Karl Reed comes from the world of yacht management, brokerage, and ocean deliveries, with extensive professional experience as a captain and multihull specialist. This firsthand understanding of owners’ needs now serves as one of the pillars of the project’s development.
The Meaning of VMG (Velocity Made Good)
The name chosen for the shipyard is no accident. In sailing terminology, Velocity Made Good (VMG) indicates the actual speed at which a vessel is progressing toward its destination, measuring real sailing efficiency rather than just speed over the course. The founders have turned this philosophy into a corporate vision focused on optimizing performance through design, innovation, and advanced engineering.
Designed by VPLP Design
One of the most significant elements of the project is the choice of partners involved in developing the VMG 53. Naval architecture has been entrusted to VPLP Design, a French studio widely considered one of the world’s leading authorities in the high-performance multihull sector. Over the years, VPLP has designed some of the fastest ocean-going trimarans ever built, decisively contributing to the technological evolution of offshore racing and high-performance cruising yachts.
The interiors are developed by Christophe Chedal Anglay, while the engineering and technical development are handled by Thorne Yacht Design. The construction of the first hull has been assigned to Evolution Marine Manufacturing, a Cape Town-based company specializing in building performance boats using advanced composite materials.
The goal is to create a trimaran capable of delivering the signature performance of modern multihull vessels without compromising the comfort standards required by a modern premium cruising boat. The VMG 53 will guarantee high efficiency, long-range autonomy, and ease of management, even during long-distance bluewater cruising.
A New Vision for High-Performance Sailing
Michael Schwartz summarizes the philosophy that guided the project’s development: “From the very beginning, our goal was to create the yacht we ourselves would want to own. We believe we have a unique opportunity to combine world-class design, true cruising capabilities, and authentic sailing performance in a way that has never been achieved before in a production trimaran. Through the VMG 53 and future models, we aim to make the most advanced technologies currently available in the trimaran world accessible to everyone.“
This statement highlights the brand’s ambition to secure a distinctive position in the premium multihull segment, offering technological solutions derived from the world of ocean racing in a product designed for cruising.
Launch Planned for 2027
With construction progressing according to schedule, the first VMG 53 is expected to launch in January 2027. Anticipation surrounding the project is high, especially due to the involvement of some of the biggest names in contemporary multihull design. The debut of the VMG 53 will also serve as the first test for a strategy that aims to transform advanced technology and specialized know-how into a line of production trimarans.
Conclusion
The birth of VMG reflects the growing interest in the high-performance multihull segment, which is increasingly focused on solutions that combine speed, comfort, and cruising range. The VMG 53 aims to be a synthesis of the expertise gained in the ocean racing world and the demands of contemporary cruising, with the ambition of making technologies previously reserved for custom or highly specialized projects widely accessible.
If expectations are met during its planned 2027 debut, VMG could carve out an exciting space for itself on the international stage of next-generation trimarans.
VMG – FAQ
VMG is a new New York-based boatbuilder specializing in the development of high-performance cruising trimarans.
It is a sailing term that indicates a vessel's actual progress toward a destination, representing the brand's design philosophy.
VMG will make its debut with the VMG 53 offshore trimaran.
The naval architecture was designed by VPLP Design, one of the world's leading firms specializing in multihulls.
Construction is being handled by Evolution Marine Manufacturing in Cape Town, South Africa.
The official launch of the VMG 53 is scheduled for January 2027.
