During this delivery, Olson came up with the idea while sailing with Denis Bassano and Don Snyder, who lent their initials to the prototype's name, SOB 30.

As a result of what Olson learned about the sailing characteristics of Pacific High, he constructed a plug for a production boat.

Construction was similar to the other Santa Cruz boats with polyester resin, E-glass, and an end-grain balsa core in the hull and deck.

MORC is no longer a viable class and Olson 30's now compete in PHRF (Performance Handicap Rating Fleet) and One Design competitions.

A combination of their relative low cost, speed, and strength has made them a favorite of singlehanded racers on the Pacific Coast.

[5] In 2018 an Olson also beat a Hobie in the Encinal Jack Frost winter series in the San Francisco Bay.

There are established fleets in the Pacific Northwest,[9] San Francisco,[10] and Los Angeles[11] areas, as well as representation on the Great Lakes,[12] on the United States East Coast, Hawaii, and in the Caribbean.

The stock rudder tends to be underpowered in heavy air, leading to difficult driving downwind especially in short waves and big wind.

Many boats have been upgraded to a Ballenger double-spreader rig, frequently using the original spar and a retrofit kit that includes new shrouds and two pairs of spreaders.

A newer non-class, deeper elliptical foil by Foss Foils in Newport, California was created for pure offshore ocean racing which garnered measurable stability on S/V Kato in the 2016 Single Handed Transpac (winner), and on S/V Concussion with her 2nd place finish in Lauderdale to Key West.