When Gary Leduc was five years old, his neighbor offered to teach him to sail if Gary would help him put together a wooden skiff. Gary agreed, and he’s been sailing ever since. A lifelong fan of the water, he spent most of his high school and college years sailing and surfing, even missing school to enjoy the water. When his neighbor, and owner of Manchester Sails, heard about Gary’s passion, he offered to teach Gary how to make sails. That offer turned into a career in the sailmaking industry.
Gary started making sails in 1969. He has been working at Quantum Bristol for more than 20 years, since before they joined Quantum Sails. He learned his trade the traditional way, making everything by hand. Today, his main focus is designing all types of cruising sails for yachts up to 60 feet.
As a member of the Quantum group, Gary has access to not only the best sail-making technology, but also to the most knowledgeable sailors in the country. “If you have a question, I can quickly Skype with or email someone and always get the answer,” he said. He uses those resources to make sure each of his clients not only get the best product, but also the best information and service. “I want to help educate them about the product and make them feel warm and comfortable,” Gary said. “In the end, they aren’t going to buy something from you if they don’t feel good about the conversation they’ve had with you.”