A year after acquiring the Ocean Play dinghy range, Performance Marine Group (PMG) is seeing early signs that availability, consistency, and manufacturing quality remain decisive factors for sailing schools and clubs. The company reports that orders have already exceeded initial annual targets, signalling renewed confidence in a fleet that had been largely absent from the market in recent years.
PMG says it is celebrating record demand as sailing schools, clubs and enthusiasts return to the fleet. Early orders have already surpassed initial annual targets – set 12 months ago.
The Picos, the first boats to enter production following the acquisition, achieved 70 per cent of the annual target within just five months. Early orders include five Picos sent to a major client in the Netherlands, who immediately followed up with a further order of ten more. Overall, PMG is on track to potentially double the initial annual targets, highlighting the enduring popularity of the Ocean Play fleet.
Investment in tooling and build quality
Central to this success has been PMG’s significant refurbishment of the Ocean Play tooling. This investment ensures that the new fleet is not only faithful to the original design but also industry-leading in build quality and performance. Customers and clubs have praised both the craftsmanship and the enhanced durability, reinforcing PMG’s reputation for delivering tried, tested and proven sailboats.
Sailing schools, clubs, and resorts – the core market for the Ocean Play range – are re-embracing the fleet after a period of limited availability. Retail sales also account for around 10 per cent of the range, reflecting the boats’ appeal to individual sailors.
Core markets: sailing schools and clubs
“Our goal was always to deliver boats that set the industry standard, and the response from the sailing community has exceeded our expectations,” says Nick Ogden, PMG chairman. “Looking forward, we want to make the Ocean Play range available to even more sailors worldwide, while continuing to innovate with new products like the Rascal. This is about giving everyone the chance to enjoy the joy of sailing, whether you’re a beginner, a club member, or an experienced sailor.”
PMG says it is committed to making sailing more accessible, ensuring that clubs, schools, and individuals can experience high-quality, easy-to-use boats (more information is available on the company’s website). The company is also expanding its reach globally, with Oceania emerging as a new focus area for the Ocean Play fleet following demand across Europe.
As PMG continues to scale production and expand distribution, the Ocean Play range appears positioned to regain its role as a core training and entry-level fleet across established and emerging markets. With further product development planned and new regions coming into focus, the next phase will test how sustained demand aligns with the company’s longer-term global strategy.
The post PMG reports record demand for Ocean Play range one year after acquisition appeared first on Marine Industry News.
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