I have also owned a Santana 20, C&C 41, J-92, Sydney 36, Farr 40, and custom 43 race boat. Of all, the boats over the years I must say the Olson 25 was my favorite. I sailed it mostly on the West Coast based out of SF and the Chesapeake Bay/Annapolis area.
We had a couple of Olsen 30s and a couple of Hobie 33s racing in our fleet. They are really fun boats to sail, and fast. A friend bought an Olsen 30 for his first sail a week later he asked if my wife and I would crew for him in a race. Early that Saturday morning I got a call I knew was coming. Hurricane Katrina was growing and heading for us in New Orleans. The Olsen 30 was destroyed along with many others in the fleet. He never got to sail the boat as its owner, only as crew prior to buying it.
Great Review of my boat Tim, I raced it in every Great Lakes Single Handed event including the Lake Ontario 300, Lake Erie 285, Trans Superior, Port Juron & Chicago Mac solo, and have been up to the North Channel 4 times in the last two season, always sail all the way there and back without the use of the outboard. My son's Olson 30 was one of only two boats out of 27 starters to complete the Chicago-Mac solo this year due to extreme conditons.
Have had one for almost 2 decades. I don't race her anymore and she's getting more uncomfortable as I get older and less flexible, but every time I go out for a sail it's a joy and can't let her go.
I'm very attached my O30, she is fast when I have the right crew. Need to sail her as flat as possible, very sensitive to crew weight and placement. She will surf with the waves downwind when in the Groove ! Forget about pointing with the fleet, the Olson 30 will not outpoint most boats, fall out for speed is the only way to win races. Love my Olson 30, best boat ever, hull #152 !
All the O30’s were built by Pacific. Its only the O25, O911se, and the O29 that were built by Ericson. The O29 was the O30 with a cut out transom. I had 1 in Barrie. Greatest boat Ever. DM me if you want some turning and racing tips.
Cool video... I miss racing against surfer girl weekly with our group of Olson 30's in LaSalle since she moved down there this year. Side note there's no "e" on "Olson" its a pretty common type-o but might help with TH-cam Search results in the future though. Cheers!
Although actually interesting info about various types/makes this has become the Lady K (talking about) Sailing vlog. Looking forward to your sailing footage.
Olsen 30 is a notoriously squirrelly boat downwind. I know this because I’ve raced them downwind off Santa Cruz . Wipeouts can happen. .... I mean nasty jibe broach. 😂
That's two boats designed by surfers. Hobie Altar was a surfer. I guess the Olson 30 was an easy version of a class of keel boats called "sport boats". The "J-24 is a more famous example.
I'm 48 and have never stepped foot on a sailboat except a pontoon catamaran when I was a kid... that being said. Am I wrong to want a full keel or a fin keel with a skeg supported rudder? I know you have said that you like to go fast, that sounds fun. But how much slower are the boats that I am looking at? Would it make that big of a difference to a newbie?
awesome ! why not a system that would add water ballast for going upwind and for heeling then pump it out on other points of sail ? would require a lithium battery bank and huge pumps ( we have a Ferrarri and like performance ! )-not afraid to modify anything ! naive enough to suggest the absurd ! LOL
It's spelled "Olson". Seems unlikely George et al. were sailing from Hawaii to Santa Cruz, Argentina per your map. If it was from Hawaii to Santa Cruz somewhere, more to Santa Cruz, California, USA, which is where Olson boats were built. Other accounts say the boat was conceived while racing from Long Beach to Hawaii in the TransPac, which seems a lot more likely than either other scenario.
Ericson never built any Olson 30's. They did build the 25's after about hull 50. Ericson also built the 911S. All the 30's were built by Pacific Boats. I believe all the 29's were as well. I owned O 30 #222 which was a 1983 build. The last 30's were built in 1984. About 250 O 30's were built. All the Olson 40's, about 30 copies, were also built by Pacific Boats.
Wow. Now I want to find a new friend with an Olsen 30 and go for a ride! Hey, did you ever get started on your website project for owners to catalog their boats?
Last race i was in on puget sound we did not get wet no wind. Once back at the dock I was asked how did you guys do? Answer: we got our ass kicked by a jelly fish...
I owned an Olson 25 back in the day and really enjoyed it. I have also sailed the 29, 30 and 911. All great boats.
I have also owned a Santana 20, C&C 41, J-92, Sydney 36, Farr 40, and custom 43 race boat. Of all, the boats over the years I must say the Olson 25 was my favorite. I sailed it mostly on the West Coast based out of SF and the Chesapeake Bay/Annapolis area.
We used to tow ours to races behind a power boat at about 20 knots. The guy with the short straw has to steer the olsen. Great entertainment.
Great episode! 22 knots. Incredible. Be fun to ride on one, but at 80, I’d need more creature comforts for cruising.
We had a couple of Olsen 30s and a couple of Hobie 33s racing in our fleet. They are really fun boats to sail, and fast. A friend bought an Olsen 30 for his first sail a week later he asked if my wife and I would crew for him in a race. Early that Saturday morning I got a call I knew was coming. Hurricane Katrina was growing and heading for us in New Orleans. The Olsen 30 was destroyed along with many others in the fleet. He never got to sail the boat as its owner, only as crew prior to buying it.
Great Review of my boat Tim, I raced it in every Great Lakes Single Handed event including the Lake Ontario 300, Lake Erie 285, Trans Superior, Port Juron & Chicago Mac solo, and have been up to the North Channel 4 times in the last two season, always sail all the way there and back without the use of the outboard. My son's Olson 30 was one of only two boats out of 27 starters to complete the Chicago-Mac solo this year due to extreme conditons.
Have had one for almost 2 decades. I don't race her anymore and she's getting more uncomfortable as I get older and less flexible, but every time I go out for a sail it's a joy and can't let her go.
Don’t forget about the Moore 24 and the Santa Cruz 27. Santa Cruz was Bill Lee Yachts.
I was about to make a comment about the SC27 and the Moore. Glad there's other fans out there!
3:14. That’s also the best way to go upwind on a multihull.
FAVORITE sail channel, keep it coming
I'm very attached my O30, she is fast when I have the right crew. Need to sail her as flat as possible, very sensitive to crew weight and placement. She will surf with the waves downwind when in the Groove ! Forget about pointing with the fleet, the Olson 30 will not outpoint most boats, fall out for speed is the only way to win races. Love my Olson 30, best boat ever, hull #152 !
All the O30’s were built by Pacific. Its only the O25, O911se, and the O29 that were built by Ericson. The O29 was the O30 with a cut out transom. I had 1 in Barrie. Greatest boat Ever. DM me if you want some turning and racing tips.
Just picked up an Olson 29. Pocket rocket!
I own a Hobie 33, hull 120, and they are fun. I have yet to hit 20 knots with her though.
Cool video... I miss racing against surfer girl weekly with our group of Olson 30's in LaSalle since she moved down there this year. Side note there's no "e" on "Olson" its a pretty common type-o but might help with TH-cam Search results in the future though. Cheers!
Although actually interesting info about various types/makes this has become the Lady K (talking about) Sailing vlog. Looking forward to your sailing footage.
love crewing on an olsen 30!!!!
Great vid on great boat. Would you consider doing a vid on best (fastest, best built...) trailerable RACE sailboats under 30'?
My favorite thing about the O30 and the Hobie 33 is watching them disappear into the distance as I rocket past them in my Soverel 33
Olsen 30 is a notoriously squirrelly boat downwind. I know this because I’ve raced them downwind off Santa Cruz . Wipeouts can happen. .... I mean nasty jibe broach. 😂
Fun episode! I crewed on an Olson 30 named Surfer Girl out of Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle back in the ‘90s. Same boat?
Reminds me of the Hobie 33
Made that comment before the end. LOL.
I'm I the only one that noticed to big ring on your left hand Tim?
Haha my mom noticed also 😂 Was a gift
OK just checking. Keep up the great work
What is her name?
Cool. Now do the O25.
What do you think of a fuji 35 cutter
Maybe you need to have water tanks to add mass for upwind sailing, dump the water for downwind.
That might be considered cheating in PHRF.
@@chuckleber3484 That -might- would be considered cheating in PHRF. (fixed it for ya! 😉)
The thing would probably fall apart since it wasn’t designed for that. They do that with some boats though.
@@joeblow1942 just add structural reinforcement !
There is an Olsen 30 AND a Hobie 33 in the 2024 Race to Alaska ( R2AK) 2024
Love the series. C.E. Ryder next..... ;P
the olsen is a fun boat and if you have Hobie 33 special make sure to show the Hobie Drop test.
That's two boats designed by surfers. Hobie Altar was a surfer.
I guess the Olson 30 was an easy version of a class of keel boats called "sport boats". The "J-24 is a more famous example.
ULDB.
I'm 48 and have never stepped foot on a sailboat except a pontoon catamaran when I was a kid... that being said. Am I wrong to want a full keel or a fin keel with a skeg supported rudder? I know you have said that you like to go fast, that sounds fun. But how much slower are the boats that I am looking at? Would it make that big of a difference to a newbie?
More wetted surface equals slower but much safer for cruising.
I was commodore of the local PHRF fleet for a few years
awesome ! why not a system that would add water ballast for going upwind and for heeling then pump it out on other points of sail ? would require a lithium battery bank and huge pumps
( we have a Ferrarri and like performance ! )-not afraid to modify anything ! naive enough to suggest the absurd ! LOL
It's spelled "Olson". Seems unlikely George et al. were sailing from Hawaii to Santa Cruz, Argentina per your map. If it was from Hawaii to Santa Cruz somewhere, more to Santa Cruz, California, USA, which is where Olson boats were built. Other accounts say the boat was conceived while racing from Long Beach to Hawaii in the TransPac, which seems a lot more likely than either other scenario.
Ericson never built any Olson 30's. They did build the 25's after about hull 50. Ericson also built the 911S. All the 30's were built by Pacific Boats. I believe all the 29's were as well. I owned O 30 #222 which was a 1983 build. The last 30's were built in 1984. About 250 O 30's were built. All the Olson 40's, about 30 copies, were also built by Pacific Boats.
Wow. Now I want to find a new friend with an Olsen 30 and go for a ride! Hey, did you ever get started on your website project for owners to catalog their boats?
Last race i was in on puget sound we did not get wet no wind. Once back at the dock I was asked how did you guys do? Answer: we got our ass kicked by a jelly fish...
Melgas scows fly buddie melgus was a 2time America’s cup contender and trained America 2 girls team him and his son build racing scows in the Midwest
O-L-S-O-N
3:14. That’s also the best way to go upwind on a multihull.