History

Disclaimer: This is a translation of the description that was published on the website of the Swedish Omega 30 Owner’s Club (which has been taken offline some time ago). These texts might have at least in parts been inspired by sailing magazine reviews of the boat. Some details added or changed by myself.

Table of Contents

How the Omega 30 Came Into the World

Already in the early 1970s, “thirty-footers” had become a generally accepted concept among Scandinavian boat owners. Many sailors found this size to be optimal for their needs and wishes.

When masthead rigs gradually began to lose popularity in the 1980s, the idea of the thirty-footer remained in sailors’ minds, and interest increasingly shifted toward easier-to-handle, efficient 7/8 rigs—preferably with a self-tacking jib. New models began to appear on the market. One of them was the Omega 30. It was designed—without sideways glances at rules such as the IOR—by Ron Holland, who by this time had established himself as a world-class designer. He was given free hands with the lines by the commissioning company, Familjebåtar AB.

The result was a fairly slender boat with moderate beam and limited draft, suited to the shallow bays of the Swedish archipelago.

The actual length is just over 31 feet, but under the influence of the well-known thirty-footer concept, the name Omega 30 was chosen. It became the smaller sister boat to Familjebåtar’s Omega 34. Both boats, however, have almost the same waterline length, which gives the Omega 30 good speed potential.

The rig was tall – 14.4 meters – with a deck-stepped mast passing through the deck, a generously sized mainsail, and a self-tacking jib. The rigging was the simple yet effective solution with single swept spreaders, cap shrouds, lower shrouds, forestay, and backstay. No running backstays. These concepts can be seen as heavily inspired by the larger, iconic Omega 42 that Rolf Gyhlenius and Peter Norlin designed in 1978. The solution allowed good possibilities for bending and trimming the mast as needed.

Production of the Omega 30 began in 1983 and continued until 1987. A total of about 300 boats were completed during that time.

Omega 30 Appears in Two Versions: 30A and 30S

Omega 30A

The Omega 30A came first and is the most common model. It features an aft cabin with two berths, accessible via a passage on the port side of the companionway steps or via an aft hatch in the small aft deck. In the saloon there is an L-shaped galley to starboard, followed by a two-seat settee against the main bulkhead. Opposite, on the port side, across from a large folding table, there is a long settee/berth. This settee can be widened with the backrest cushion to form a berth approximately 80 cm wide.

Early models have both the toilet and washbasin on the port side, as well as a wardrobe on the starboard side. The toilet door was mounted fore-and-aft, creating a small and cramped space.

Omega 30S

The Omega 30S has a long galley running the entire length of the starboard side of the saloon, and two quarter berths aft instead of an aft cabin. The 30S also lacks the small aft deck with its separate hatch. On this model the entire coachroof has been extended, creating a very large saloon. Forward, both models are identical, with the toilet to port and two berths in the forecabin. Furthest forward in the bow there is a storage space for, for example, gas, fenders, and other gear. This model also has an additional aft locker accessible from the cockpit. Another detail is that the engine exhaust exits through the transom on at least some of the 30Ss.

Construction

The hull is built in single-skin laminate of fiberglass and polyester, while the superstructure and deck are constructed using a sandwich structure with a Divinycell core.
A partial inner liner provides structural stiffness to the hull. There is a small keel pocket and several strong transverse beams, including under the mast step and at the aft end of the saloon.

All tanks—water, toilet, fuel, and the refrigerator box—are made of stainless steel and placed as centrally as possible.

The companionway opening is wide and deep, providing plenty of air and light to the boat’s interior.

Headroom in the saloon is a comfortable 185 cm, and the open floor area offers good space aft of the fixed folding table. All interior joinery is executed in mahogany.

Engine

The engine is/was usually a Yanmar 1GM with 9 hp (7.5 hp on the very first boats), now in many cases replaced with newer engines in the 18-22 hp range (Yanmar, Volvo Penta, Vetus, Lombardini).

Drive is via a fixed shaft to a two-blade folding propeller and through a skeg; there is therefore no separate shaft support bearing.
The rudder is a balanced spade rudder beneath a reverse transom, usually equipped with a combined rescue and bathing ladder—now in several cases replaced with a bathing platform.

Other Notes

Overall, the boat exhibits fairly classic, timeless lines (which may prove wise in the long run). Reviewing the boating press from the 1980s, one can see that the boat’s sailing characteristics received very high marks and the craftsmanship was judged to be of good mid-range quality. After inspection, the Omega 30 received the Swedish Maritime Administration’s Blue Plaque, meaning that the boat’s construction and safety met good standards.

Over time, many owners have made improvements and modifications according to their tastes and needs, so relatively few boats still correspond exactly to the original yard standard.