When Kerry Klingler was eight years old, his father decided sailing would be a good sport for the family to enjoy together. Kerry and his dad learned to sail at the same time, and Kerry fell in love. He started to race competitively at the local yacht club, and by the time he was a senior in high school he knew he wanted to make the sailing industry his career. He dreamed of life as a sailmaker and decided to pursue that dream.
Kerry jumped into the industry and found himself not only making sails, but running a loft as well. While he appreciated the opportunity to stay in the industry, he felt his talents growing stale. "I was designing sails, but no one was pushing me to the next level as a maker or designer," he said. "I started looking for a position where I could design with a company that was technologically advanced so I could become a better, smarter, more advanced sail designer."
He found that opportunity at Quantum Sails. As the J-Boat Team Leader, Kerry not only designs sails for some of the largest One Design fleets, he also gets out of the loft to help his clients get the most out of every sail. Though people recognize him as a dedicated sailmaker, he’s also working hard all the time to provide the best service and products for their boats.
"I teach them first," he said. "I show them how to tune the boat, how the sail should sit on the boat, how to trim it, and more. It's a pretty comprehensive session where I try to infuse as much knowledge as possible."