Welcome Aboard, New Lofts & Consultants - March 2021

Gabriel de Llano

Sail Consultant

Cartagena, Spain
E: gdellanofernandez@gmail.com
P: +34-63-8895812

Gabriel de Llano studied at the Leon University of Law and graduated by COMME as a surveyor. He worked as a surveyor on the transport of goods, hulls, fishing boats, and sport boats. After finishing university, he dedicated himself to sailboat racing. He has spent more than 20 years building his skills in highly competitive regattas at the national and international levels and has managed the operations of several boats for successful team performance.

Gabriel has worked in many facets of the marine industry from rigger and sailing instructor to surveyor. He is particularly skilled in the engineering of deck layouts and systems on race boats as well as hardware and rigging. Gabriel has competed in the America’s Cup, on TP52s and IMOCA 60s, and even won a Star European Championship.

Gabriel’s broad background and technical skills allow him to bring knowledge and enthusiasm to all Quantum customers. He is excited to help expand Quantum’s reach in Spain, providing the region with additional service and support.

KRAKEN SAILS

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Sofia Holloway

Sail Consultant
E: krakensails@gmail.com
P: (340) 642-2588

Sofia Holloway was born in Svendborg, Denmark, and raised on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Growing up around sailing and working on charter boats throughout high school, she then attended a semester at sea on a Danish tall ship named George Stage. It was during this time that Sofia learned more about sailmaking and truly fell in love with being on the water.

After her semester at sea, she spent four years in trade school in Denmark, interning at different lofts. The variety in the lofts offered Sofia a range of experiences. She started out making full enclosures and dodgers for boats and ended up working on the floor at North Sails Denmark, making mainly large yacht sails. Sofia also spent time learning traditional sailmaking and making sails for historic tall ships in Denmark and Norway with Duradon canvas. 

Most recently, she spent time at Quantum Sails Copenhagen, a loft that specializes in sails, canvas, large tension sails, and kite and surf repairs. It was important to Sofia to learn the unique, individual processes at the different lofts so that she could offer more services in the future. After finishing her final exam in sailmaking school, Sofia and her husband Ask Bergdahl, who is a boatbuilder, moved back to her island home of St. Croix and opened a sail loft. Since opening the loft in 2018, Sofia has been busy and is excited to put St. Croix on the sailing map. “Being on an island, you have to be ready for almost anything that walks through the door. I’m excited I can now also offer Quantum Sails to St. Croix!”

Sailboat Service Denmark

Jesper Stokholm 

Sail Consultant
E: jstokholm@quantumsails.com
P: +45 42611068

Sailboat Service Denmark is a new authorized dealer and service center for Quantum Sails in association with Quantum Sails Copenhagen. Our relationship with Jesper Stokholm and Sailboat Service Denmark represents a continued and ever expanding commitment to sailors in Denmark, Northern Germany, and the Baltic Region.



 

Zsolt Lovas

Quantum Sails Hungary
​Sail Consultant

E: zslovas@quantumsails.com
P: +36-20-584-4991

Zsolt Lovas grew up near Lake Balaton in Hungary with a family of sailors, so it only seemed natural for him to get involved in the sport. His uncle, a sailing coach at a local club, gave Zsolt lessons at a very young age. Zsolt began racing when he was 13.

Most of Zsolt’s early sailing was spent in double-handed boats like the Cadet, 420, 470, and 49er. He continued to spend a large amount of his career competing in the 470. After nearly 10 years in the 470, he transitioned from dinghies to keelboats.

In 2008, Zsolt become part of a keelboat team that focused on the Blue Ribbon, the biggest, most honored regatta in Hungary. The Blue Ribbon is a traditional long-distance lake regatta. Zsolt spent 10 years as a member of the team, winning the regatta five times and learning a lot about campaigning boats, service, maintenance, and sail development. Now Zsolt is the boat captain of Racing Django, a Decision 35 Catamaran, and keeps the team together and the boat running smoothly. In 2019, Racing Django won the Blue Ribbon, and Zsolt earned his sixth win in the prestigious regatta.

Aside from his affinity for keelboats, Zsolt fell in love with foiling. He started sailing a Moth as a hobby, saying “Moths always amaze me with their continuous need of development. They also provide a platform to step up as a helmsman and learn new skills.”