We may have grown to be one of the largest sailmakers in the world, but we continue to hold onto our mission to support sailors everywhere and help them meet their challenges every step of the way to ensure they get the most out of their time on the water. Our teams work tirelessly behind the scenes with that goal in mind. Over the past year, we have developed a group of regional managers to better enable our teams on the ground to provide the high level of service you deserve.
These regional managers are all familiar Quantum faces and come to this role from various positions in the company. This model helps us serve you more efficiently and provide easier access to Quantum’s powerful network and resources. Here is a look at our regional manager team. Never hesitate to reach out to any of the members. We are at your service!
PACIFIC REGION
Patrick Whitmarsh
pwhitmarsh@quantumsails.com
Since he started sailing in 1984, Patrick has been hooked on the sport. Starting at a young age in Lasers and then learning to sail larger keel boats, he’s spent the majority of his life on the water. First at Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club on the waters of the Monterey Bay and then in the more extreme setting of the San Francisco Bay, sailing has taken Patrick to destinations around the world.
Along the way, Patrick has sailed in Australia as a junior on the Youth Match Race Tour and as an adult in the JJ Giltinan 18-foot skiff championships, in Hawaii’s offshore races during his college years at the University of Hawaii and after graduation. Through Europe on the 49er Olympic circuit and aboard the TP52 Rio, Patrick covered most of the waters of the Old Country, not to mention nearly every major sailing port in North America.
Patrick has been the loft service manager Quantum’s San Francisco loft for the past six years and stays active sailing one-design events as a tactician and racing offshore as a navigator.
SOUTHERN REGION
Farley Fontenot
farley@quantumsails.com
Farley is a lifelong, world-class sailor with more than 30 years of experience as one of the world’s top sailmakers and yacht racers. In 1985, Farley teamed up with John Kolius and started UK Sails Texas. The loft became the premier sail maker on the Gulf Coast and gained international recognition for its success in Grand Prix events. In 1996, Farley co-founded Quantum Sails and now serves as Executive Vice President.
Among his many accomplishments, Farley is a two-time member of the J/24 world championship team and has sailed aboard the winner of the Southern Ocean Racing Conference, the International 50’ class world champion, and the One-Design 48 circuit season champion. He and Kolius teamed up again on the water and have won the J/80 North Americans and placed second at the J/80 Worlds.
Farley coaches many Melges 32 teams, races on RP 86 Windquest, and races his own Viper 640.
GREAT LAKES REGION
Troy Scharlow
tscharlow@quantumsails.com
Troy has been on or around the water for nearly 50 years. Growing up with a family that spent their weekends sailing on Lake Erie, he was introduced to the sport at a young age. One day, while at the marina where the family boat was kept, the marina owner asked Troy if he wanted to go sailboat racing. "I was hooked," says Troy.
Troy ended up working summers at that marina boatyard during most of his high school and college years. He had the chance to sail many different boats, from PHRF to IOR and some one-design classes. After graduating from Ohio State University, the influencers in Troy's life suggested that if he enjoyed the sailing lifestyle, he should probably find a real job to support it. So, Troy spent 25 years working for several companies, gaining valuable experience in sales, management, and business development. He is excited to bring that valuable experience to the Quantum team as the Great Lakes regional sales and service manager.
Troy's sailing experience includes the old IOR glory days, PHRF, and several one-design classes, including 1D-35, Farr 40, Melges 24, J-111 and J-70. He's participated with various teams in more than 25 Chicago-to-Mackinac races with several podium finishes and an overall win in 2013.
Troy lives in Holland, Michigan, where he and his wife raised three sons. His focus is on combining his passion for the sport of sailing with his business acumen to help deliver the Quantum experience.
ATLANTIC REGION
Charlie Saville
csaville@quantumsails.com
Born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Charlie Saville learned to sail on the Tred Avon River in Maryland. His childhood revolved around the water, junior sailing on the eastern shores of Maryland and racing Etchells in San Diego. After college, Charlie set out on a 10-year off-shore sailing career, covering more than 125,000 nautical miles and visiting 40 countries during 11 ocean crossings.
A third-generation sailmaker and professional sailing instructor with more than 6,000 hours of instruction, Charlie co-founded Warrior Yachting in Annapolis, Maryland, in 2000. Providing yacht and sail maintenance, consultations, and instruction, he had one mission: to help people achieve their yachting goals. In 2009, he brought that mission to Quantum Atlantic when he was contracted to manage the Annapolis service department and has been with Quantum in various roles since.
NEW ENGLAND REGION
Dawn Mello
dmello@quantumsails.com
Dawn started working for Hood Sailmakers in Newport in 1991 as an Accounts Receivable Clerk. As the needs in that loft grew, she took on additional responsibilities and eventually moved into the General Manager position. In 2017, Dawn came on board as Quantum Newport's Office Manager. Now, she has earned a seat at the Regional Manager's table and will run day-to-day operations of Quantum Sails Newport. Sales, service, and production, in Newport, will report to Dawn, and together, we anticipate great things for this loft.
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We are at your service and by your side every step of the way. We are proud to be your sailmaker and look forward to continuing to find new and better ways to help you meet your challenges. See you on the water.
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