kts

kts is the standard abbreviation for knots, the maritime unit of speed. One knot equals one nautical mile per hour, or 1.852 kilometres per hour. In boating forecasts and navigation displays, kts may describe wind speed, vessel speed, current strength, or the speed made good along a route.

Using kts keeps speed, distance, and time in the same navigational system, making passage planning more accurate. A forecast wind of 25 kts, a tidal stream of 3 kts, or a cruising speed of 7 kts all directly affect safety margins, ETA, fuel range, and sail selection. It is closely tied to Nautical Miles, Wind Speed, and True Wind Speed.

PredictWind displays wind, gusts, currents, and routing outputs in kts so skippers can compare forecasts with onboard instruments and real-world performance. In Weather Routing, accurate speed in kts helps calculate optimal routes, departure windows, and arrival times.