Olson 25

Description

The Olson 25 is a lightweight, high-performance one-design sport sailboat designed by American naval architect George Olson in 1984, blending elements of his radical ultralight displacement boats (like the Olson 30) with more conventional cruiser-racer traits for better dry-sailability and versatility; it was initially built by Pacific Boat Works starting in 1984, with production later shifting to Ericson Yachts in the United States, resulting in approximately 130 boats completed by 1989 when production ended; the design remains popular for club racing, one-design fleets (especially in areas like San Francisco Bay), and fast day sailing or short coastal cruising, featuring a fractional sloop rig (though often sailed as masthead in practice), a fin keel with spade rudder for agile handling, lightweight fiberglass construction, a simple open cockpit, minimal accommodations (typically 4 berths with basic galley/head), and an outboard auxiliary motor; it is known for its stiff, responsive performance, excellent upwind ability, and fun, exciting sailing in moderate to strong winds.