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Baba 40
Designer: Robert Perry  ·  Builder: Ta Shing Shipyards  ·  First built: 1980
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About the Baba 40

Built by Taiwan's renowned Baba Yachts during the 1980s, this impressive 40-footer represents the shipyard's commitment to creating robust, seaworthy cruising vessels designed for serious offshore adventures. Baba Yachts earned a stellar reputation among blue-water sailors for constructing heavy-displacement boats that prioritize safety and comfort over speed. The Baba 40 embodies classic cruising yacht principles with its full keel design and substantial construction, making it an excellent choice for extended offshore passages and liveaboard cruising. The boat's traditional lines and generous interior volume reflect thoughtful design priorities that favor practicality and seaworthiness over racing performance. Known for their exceptional build quality, Baba yachts from this era were hand-laid using solid fiberglass construction techniques that created incredibly strong, long-lasting hulls. The shipyard's attention to detail and use of quality hardware contributed to these boats' reputation for reliability in challenging conditions. While detailed specifications remain limited, the Baba 40's design philosophy clearly targets serious cruising sailors who value proven seaworthiness and comfortable accommodations for extended voyaging. This boat represents an era when Taiwanese shipbuilders established themselves as producers of dependable, well-built cruising yachts.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 39.83 ft / 12.14 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 34.50 ft / 10.52 m
Beam 12.83 ft / 3.91 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement 29,000.00 lb / 13,154 kg
Ballast 12,000.00 lb / 5,443 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 864.00 ft² / 80.27 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Robert Perry
Builder Ta Shing Shipyards
First Built 1980
Last Built 1982
Related Sailboats ["Tashiba 40" · "Panda 40" · "Valiant 40 2" · "Island Packet 40" · "Christina 40 Hans Christian"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 179
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 14.71
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 41.5
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.67
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.87
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.46
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 50.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 21.0
P (Mainsail Luff) 46.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.75
SA Fore 525.0
SA Main 339.25
How It Compares

vs. Island Packet 40, Panda 40, Valiant 40 2

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Baba 40 ★
39.8 ft
Island Packet 40
40.0 ft
Panda 40
39.9 ft
Valiant 40 2
39.9 ft
LWL
Baba 40 ★
34.5 ft
Island Packet 40
34.0 ft
Panda 40
34.5 ft
Valiant 40 2
34.0 ft
Beam
Baba 40 ★
12.8 ft
Island Packet 40
12.9 ft
Panda 40
12.8 ft
Valiant 40 2
12.3 ft
Displacement
Baba 40 ★
29 lbs
Island Packet 40
22 lbs
Panda 40
29 lbs
Valiant 40 2
22 lbs
Ballast
Baba 40 ★
12 lbs
Island Packet 40
10 lbs
Panda 40
12 lbs
Valiant 40 2
7 lbs
Sail Area
Baba 40 ★
864 sq ft
Island Packet 40
907 sq ft
Panda 40
859 sq ft
Valiant 40 2
772 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Baba 40 ★
179 s/nm
Island Packet 40
141 s/nm
Panda 40
164 s/nm
Valiant 40 2
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Baba 40 ★
14.7
Island Packet 40
18.1
Panda 40
14.6
Valiant 40 2
15.6
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Baba 40 ★
—
Island Packet 40
43.9 %
Panda 40
—
Valiant 40 2
34.2 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Baba 40 ★
41.5
Island Packet 40
32.6
Panda 40
41.5
Valiant 40 2
34.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Baba 40 ★
1.67
Island Packet 40
1.83
Panda 40
1.67
Valiant 40 2
1.75
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Baba 40 ★
—
Island Packet 40
258
Panda 40
—
Valiant 40 2
255
Hull Speed
Baba 40 ★
7.9 kts
Island Packet 40
7.8 kts
Panda 40
7.9 kts
Valiant 40 2
7.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Baba 40 ★
1.5
Island Packet 40
2.0
Panda 40
1.5
Valiant 40 2
2.0
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