Bahia Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The narrative of the Bahia begins with its esteemed designer, Jo Richards, a naval architect with a significant portfolio of dinghy designs, including the popular Laser Pico. Richards' design philosophy for the Bahia focused on blending performance with stability, aiming to create a boat that was both accessible for novice sailors and engaging for more experienced hands. Production of the Bahia commenced around 2007 under Laser Performance. This era saw the boat quickly gain a reputation as a durable and highly functional rotomoulded dinghy, catering to sailing clubs, training centers, and families seeking a reliable and fun vessel.

A pivotal moment in the Bahia's production history occurred when Performance Sailcraft Europe (PSE) acquired the Ocean Play brand from the RS Marine Group, including the manufacturing rights for the Bahia. This transition, which took place around 2022-2023, ensured the continued production of the Bahia using its original design, though some elements like sail designs have been refreshed. The Bahia's construction employs a triple-layer super linear foam sandwich polyethylene, a rotomoulding technique that provides a robust, low-maintenance hull while maintaining strength and rigidity. This manufacturing ethos aligns with Ocean Play's commitment to durability and user-friendliness.

Sailing Performance and Handling

Despite its relatively small size, the Ocean Play Bahia is celebrated for its dynamic yet forgiving sailing characteristics. Weighing in at 342 pounds with a reported sail area of 148 square feet, it offers a lively performance for a family dinghy. The boat is notably stable, with reviewers remarking it feels "as stable as the floating dock". This inherent stability makes it an excellent choice for training environments and recreational sailing, instilling confidence in beginners. Even in the event of a capsize, the Bahia is designed to be slow to turtle and easy to right, often remaining on its side with the assistance of a masthead float, allowing even smaller sailors to recover it.

The Bahia is described as "flat out fun and easy to sail," offering "controlled power". Upwind, it exhibits good tacking angles and an excellent groove, while offwind, the option of an asymmetric spinnaker allows the boat to "get humming along". The spinnaker system is designed for ease of use, featuring a "one-pull" system for launching and dousing. For those seeking a more exhilarating experience, the Bahia can be equipped with a trapeze kit. Its wide transom further contributes to its stability, and the wide hull is forgiving of minor steering errors. The Dacron mainsail can be easily reefed using a single-line slab reefing system, providing adaptability for varying wind conditions. While rotomoulded hulls are not considered "super light," the Bahia is manageable for launching and landing on smooth slipways.

Accommodations and Layout

The Ocean Play Bahia, while a dinghy, offers a remarkably spacious and thoughtfully designed cockpit layout that prioritizes comfort and practicality for its intended use. Its self-draining cockpit is generously sized, capable of accommodating up to five adults, making it well-suited for family outings or multiple students with an instructor. The design includes a high boom, which provides ample headroom and enhances safety, particularly during maneuvers.

The cockpit is designed to be clutter-free, with control lines intuitively placed and within easy reach, minimizing obstructions for movement on board. A "roll bar" serves as a mainsheet attachment point and a convenient handhold for younger crew members. A notable feature is the Gnav Vang System, which positions the compression strut on top of the boom, freeing up valuable space below and allowing for a lower center of effort in the sail. For convenience, the Bahia offers an optional padded storage box that can be fitted at the stern, providing secure stowage for an outboard engine, oars, or other gear, including wet clothing. The boat is also designed for versatility beyond sailing, with the ability to be rowed (featuring standard oarlocks) or powered by a small outboard motor, further enhancing its utility for exploring or fishing trips. For safety and re-boarding, the hull features discreet moulded handholds under the rubbing strake and ready-to-use righting lines under the gunwales. The Bahia includes three hatches: one on the foredeck, a watertight compartment in the center console for small valuables, and one in the aft cockpit, all requiring checking before launching to ensure watertight integrity.

Owner's Perspectives

Owners and users consistently laud the Ocean Play Bahia for its practical design, durability, and suitability across a wide range of sailing activities. The boat is widely embraced by sailing schools and holiday centers due to its robust polyethylene construction and low-maintenance requirements, which translate to a hassle-free ownership experience. Many owners praise its exceptional stability and forgiving nature, which build confidence in beginners and allow for comfortable family outings.

The Bahia's versatility is a frequently highlighted strength, with owners appreciating its capacity for both leisurely cruising and more spirited club racing with the addition of a gennaker and trapeze. Its ease of rigging, launching, and capsize recovery are also recurrent themes in positive feedback. While some mention that rotomoulded boats may not feel as "light" as high-performance composite dinghies, this characteristic is generally understood as a trade-off for the Bahia's renowned robustness and longevity. The widespread adoption of the Bahia in training fleets globally fosters a broad, informal community of users who value its reliability and straightforward enjoyment.