What is the Baba 30's sail area to displacement ratio?

The Baba 30 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 15.02. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.

What is the Baba 30's comfort ratio?

The Baba 30 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 33.38. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.

Is the Baba 30 safe for offshore sailing?

The Baba 30 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.77. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.

What is the hull speed of the Baba 30?

The theoretical hull speed of the Baba 30 is 6.63 knots, calculated from its waterline length.

How much does a Baba 30 weigh?

The Baba 30 has a displacement of 12,500.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 29.75 ft.

How much does a used Baba 30 cost?

Based on 4 recent market listings, used Baba 30 sailboats typically sell for between $30,000 and $32,000, with a median asking price of $31,000. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.

Who designed the Baba 30?

The Baba 30 was designed by Robert Perry, first built in 1976.

Baba 30 Performance — PHRF, SA/D, Hull Speed & Sailing Characteristics

The Baba 30 is moderately powered for comfortable coastal cruising, with a steady, comfortable ride offshore.

Hull Speed

The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.

6.6 kts

A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 24.5′, the Baba 30 tops out around 6.6 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.

1.34 × √24.5′ LWL = 6.6 kts

Performance Ratios

Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.

PHRF Rating

222s/nm

Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.

SA / Displacement

15.0

Moderate sail power — a capable coastal cruiser, not overpowered.

Ballast / Displacement

40.0%

Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.

Displacement / Length

379

Heavy displacement — a slow, steady, seakindly hull.

Comfort Ratio

33.4

Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.

Capsize Screening

1.77

Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.

Hull Speed

6.6kts

S# (Speed Number)

1.1

Pounds/Inch Immersion

5lbs

Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.

Motion & Offshore Suitability

Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.

Comfort Ratio

33.4

Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.

Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion

20–30 — Acceptable coastal

30–40 — Good offshore comfort

Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore

Capsize Screening Formula

1.77

Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.

Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore

Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters

PHRF Fleet Position

Where the Baba 30 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Cruiser/Racer 90–150

Cruiser 150–210

Heavy Cruiser 210–300

Victoria 30 Paine 192s/nm

Blue Chip 30 216s/nm

Baba 30 222s/nm Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.

Cape Dory 300 Ms 293s/nm

Estimated Speed by Wind

Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.

Point of Sail	6 kts TWS	10 kts TWS	15 kts TWS	20 kts TWS
Close-hauled40–50°	2.5	3.1	3.5	3.7
Close Reach60°	3.0	3.8	4.3	4.4
Beam Reach90°	3.7	4.7	5.2	5.4
Broad Reach120–135°	3.4	4.3	4.8	5.0
Run150–180°	2.7	3.5	3.9	4.0

These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.6 kts), SA/D (15.0), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current. Speeds in gold approach hull speed; bold gold means near or at hull speed.

Wind Range & Comfort Envelope

Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Baba 30 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.

Ghost

Sweet Spot

Reef

Heavy

0–7 kts 7–22 kts 22–32 kts 32+ kts

Ghosting

0–7 kts

Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.

Sweet Spot

7–22 kts

Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.

Time to Reef

22–32 kts

Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.

Heavy Weather

32+ kts

Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.

How It Compares

Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Baba 30.

	Baba 30	Blue Chip 30	Cape Dory 300 Ms	Etendard	Morgan Out Island 30	Victoria 30 Paine
Dimensions
LOA	29.8	29.8	29.9	29.9	29.8	29.7
LWL	24.5	23.2	26.5	24.3	24.8	23.3
Beam	10.3	9.0	11.4	9.7	9.2	9.6
Displacement	12	7	11	9	9	9
Ballast	5	3	4	3	3	4
Sail Area	504	438	442	455	375	—
Performance
PHRF	222	216	293	—	—	192
SA/Disp	15.0	19.2	13.9	16.6	13.4	—
Bal/Disp	40.0	46.4	39.1	35.7	31.6	48.8
Comfort	33.4	23.0	25.2	26.8	29.2	—
Capsize	1.77	1.88	2.03	1.85	1.73	—
Hull Speed	6.6	6.5	6.9	6.6	6.7	—