Quantum Sails Oriental at Sailcraft Service

Raymond Hocking grew up in Michigan and Minnesota, where he was first introduced to recreational sailing on the Great Lakes. It wasn't until Ray moved to central California that he began racing and, ultimately, made a career as a rigger. He began racing on ULDBs such as Moore 24s, Santa Cruz 27s, and Olsen 30s. He also spent numerous seasons as the bowman on a Wylie 46.

Ray has a degree in Environmental Policy with a marine focus. He has done a good deal of non-profit work, but eventually started to get burned out and took a step back from activist work. Having gained a love and knowledge of sailing during that time, it seemed a logical next step for a career change. He was fortunate to land an apprenticeship and then work as a journeyman rigger for Easom Racing and Rigging in the San Francisco Bay Area. At Easom, Ray worked with high-end programs such as Disney’s Pyewacket as well as on many classic wooden vessels around San Francisco. Easom was located beneath a Quantum loft and, while working there, Ray would work closely with the Quantum team on full rigging and sail jobs.

Now living in eastern North Carolina with a large cruiser population, Ray's focus has changed primarily to cruising vessels, but he has been able to use his racing knowledge to help cruisers optimize their rigging systems for efficiency and ease of use.