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An optimist sailor racing downwind with a Quantum sail.

Optimist

Quantum's Optimist program has been powering young sailors to the top of the fleet for more than 25 years, seeing them win multiple World, European, North American, South American and regional championships. To equip sailors to compete at these high levels, Quantum offers a range of sails, from our trainer for sailing schools and junior programs to the full-on race QX-1, our newest sail. Quantum Sails QX-1 is the sail of choice for the 2021 Optimist World Champion!

Quantum's Optimist design team, led by Fernando Sallent, develops and creates championship-winning dinghy sails. Through design and testing, we are constantly updating our sail selection, sail shapes, and sail materials to accelerate your program and keep you in front of the fleet.

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Optimist Mainsails

Optimist QX-1 Light

Designed for sailors weighing up to 82 lbs (37 kg).
When it's time to accelerate your program, you want the best. Updated for 2023, the Quantum QX-1 was designed and tested extensively by our lofts in Spain and Brazil. The panel designs include a cross-cut body for a smoother entry and exit and features the latest in sail materials and technology.

Sails come with battens, vision window, luff and leech telltales, IODA royalty button, tube bag, sail ties, and sail numbers

Optimist QX-1 Medium

Designed for sailors weighing up to 82-93 lbs (37-42kg).
When it's time to accelerate your program, you want the best. Updated for 2023, the Quantum QX-1 was designed and tested extensively by our lofts in Spain and Brazil. The panel designs include a cross-cut body for a smoother entry and exit and features the latest in sail materials and technology.

Sails come with battens, vision window, luff and leech telltales, IODA royalty button, tube bag, sail ties, and sail numbers.

This product may be ordered through your local rep or a class expert.

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Optimist QX-1 Heavy

Designed for sailors weighing 93-101 lbs and up (42-46 kg).
When it's time to accelerate your program, you want the best. Updated for 2023, the Quantum QX-1 was designed and tested extensively by our lofts in Spain and Brazil. The panel designs include a cross-cut body for a smoother entry and exit and features the latest in sail materials and technology.

Sails come with battens, vision window, luff and leech telltales, IODA royalty button, tube bag, sail ties, and sail numbers.

Optimist QX-1 X-Heavy

Designed for sailors weighing 101 lbs and up (46+ kg).
When it's time to accelerate your program, you want the best. Updated for 2023, the Quantum QX-1 was designed and tested extensively by our lofts in Spain and Brazil. The panel designs include a cross-cut body for a smoother entry and exit and features the latest in sail materials and technology.

Sails come with battens, vision window, luff and leech telltales, IODA royalty button, tube bag, sail ties, and sail numbers.

Choose a Team Member

Carter Cameron

Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, Carter fell in love with sailboat racing at a young age. He sailed Optis and Club 420s but his favorite racing boat was the Lightning. He sailed for the College of Charleston where he was coached by legendary sailmaker Greg Fisher. Carter was a skipper and starting heavy crew at Charleston and was nominated for the Robert H. Hobbs Sportsman of the Year in 2019 for college sailing. It was during his time at the College of Charleston that Carter realized his passion for the art of sailmaking and the science behind sail design.

Carter graduated in 2019 and moved to Annapolis to work with Quantum Sails as a service sailmaker. He quickly integrated himself into the Mid-Atlantic one-design sailing scene, excelling in the Snipe and Lightning classes. Carter also has experience with Viper 640s, E Scows, and high school and collegiate dinghies.

After spending 2 years at the loft in Annapolis, Carter moved to Quantum Sails San Diego to be a One Design Sailmaker under Mark Reynolds and George Szabo. In San Diego, Carter focuses on the production, R&D, and sales of One Design Sails with the goal of providing the best sails to our clients.

Carter enjoys giving back to the sport. He's a member of the Under 30 Committee for the U.S. Snipe Class, and enjoys coaching clinics, running regattas, and leading webinars. Carter is ready to help you maximize your potential in One Design sailing and any of your sailing needs.

Basic info
  • Position: One Design Sail Consultant
Career highlights
  • 2013 Club 420 National Champion Skipper
  • College of Charleston Sailing Team Captain, 2018-19
  • 2017 and 2019 ICSA Co-ed Fleet Race National Champion Heavy Crew
  • 2017 and 2018 ICSA Team Race National Champion Heavy Crew
Scott Nixon

Scott Nixon has been involved with racing his whole life. An All-American sailor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Scott later coached many students to the All-American ranks at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. He has a wide range of racing experiences, including dinghies, One Design keelboats, inshore big boats, and offshore distance racing.

Scott joined Quantum Sails in 2000, and his experiences bring a unique skill-set to Quantum’s programs. Focusing primarily on One Design classes, he is directly involved in testing, design, and development of Quantum’s One Design sail programs, working directly with the design team to make sure Quantum® sails are at the front of the fleet.

Scott has sailed with Quantum customers to win championships at the world, Gold Cup, European, North American, and national levels. His hands-on approach includes active campaigns and racing in the following classes for Quantum: J/22, J/24, J/70, J/80, J/109, J/111, C&C 30, Farr 30, Farr 40, NYYC 42, Swan 45, Melges 20, Melges 24, and Melges 32.

Basic info
  • Nationality: USA
  • Position: Global Offshore One Design Director
  • Current Town: Annapolis
Fernando Sallent

When Fernando Sallent was 10 years old, a friend of his father bought him an Optimist dinghy. From then on Fernando was hooked. As an adult, his first business venture was Technik Boats, a small Optimist shipyard, but it was the physics of sailing that really intrigued him. “I always had a passion for finding a way to make boats go faster,” he said.

That passion led him to La Industrial Velera Marsal, a local sailmaker who made all of his sails by hand. Fernando worked there learning the basics of sailmaking while also running Technick Boats. After taking a year off to serve in the military, he decided to leave Technick and joined Toni Tio Sail Loft. Toni Tio was only designing cruising sails at the time, so Fernando came on board to lead the One Design section of the company.

In 1996, Toni and Fernando visited the Quantum Annapolis loft, and in 2000 they joined the Quantum Sails team. Fernando continues to design One Design sails as he works to help his clients improve on the water. “I love seeing how sailors do better when the product is improved,” he said. “I love the fine tuning of boats and sails on the water.”

An accomplished sailor, Fernando also works as a coach for many teams. He coached the 470 women’s world, Olympic, and European champions in 1992 and the 470 women’s world champions in 1995. Since 2000, he has advised the Norwegian, Swedish, Swiss, and Spanish Olympic teams.

Basic info
  • Nationality: Spain
  • Position: Sail Designer
  • Current Town: Barcelona
Career highlights
  • As a sail designer, Fernando’s sails have won:
  • 1992 Olympics – 470 men’s gold medal, 470 women’s gold medal, Europe Dinghy silver medal
  • 1996 Olympics – 470 women’s gold medal, 470 men’s bronze medal
  • 2000 Olympics – Europe Dinghy bronze medal
  • 2004 Olympics – Europe Dinghy gold medal, 470 women’s silver medal, 470 men’s bronze medal
  • 2008 Olympics – Tornado gold medal, 470 men’s bronze medal
  • 2012 Olympics – 470 women’s gold medal
  • 470 Class – 1992-95 men’s world champion,
  • 1992/1995-96/2005/2011 women’s world champion
  • Optimist – 1993-96/2004 world champion
  • Europe Dinghy – 2003-04/2010 women’s world champion
  • 2004-06/2010-12 men’s world champion
Alejandro Irigoyen

Alejandro Irigoyen

Alejandro Irigoyen started sailing when he was 12 years old. His father was a keen sailboat racer at the Yacht Club Argentino, and Alejandro spent his weekends racing and living aboard the family’s wooden S&S Finisterre. By the time he graduated high school, Alejandro knew he wanted to dedicate his life to sailing, so he started studying yacht design.

He started his sailmaking career in 1982 working for Hood, before starting his own Sobstad loft. In 2001, Alejandro joined the Quantum Sails family. “It was a natural decision,” he said. “I shared the same view and goals as the founding group.”

Though he’s sailed in various classes, Alejandro’s expertise includes Optimist, Cadet, 470, Snipe, J/24, J/70, J/105, Soto 33, and Soto 44 classes. Whether he’s sharing his class knowledge and experience, or helping customers organize their campaigns and training, Alejandro’s passion for excellence provides the best service, products, and support for his customers.

Basic info
  • Nationality: Argentina
Career highlights
  • 15-time National Champion in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Peru
  • 6-time South American Champion in Cadet, 470, J/24, and Soto 40 as helm/skipper
  • Coached 470 Olympic bronze medalist teams in 2000 & 2012
  • Coached Soto 40 Team Negra in 2010 & 2013
  • Has successfully raced as helm/trimmer/tactician on board various One Design and offshore boats at regattas in more than 30 countries around the world
Carlos Rodriguez

When Carlos Rodriguez was four years old, his mother worked for a One Design boat company. She started taking him to races on the weekends, and it didn’t take long before Carlos started racing. When he was just 17 years old, the Catalonian Sailing Federation offered him a job, and he’s been sailing ever since.

Carlos started working at a Quantum Sails loft in 1996. After learning how to make sails on the floor, service sails, and design sails, he became a salesman. Carlos not only spends almost every weekend racing in local and national events with Quantum customers, serving as a skipper, tactician, and jib-spinnaker-mainsail trimmer, he also trims masts, finds crew members, provides certificate optimization in ORC, and even services sails during races. Carlos now serves as the Spain Regional Manager and works hard to make Quantum Sails Spain a full-service, one-stop loft for all sailing needs.

A professional racing crew member since 1995, Carlos has an extensive resume, including experience on Mega Yachts, ORC boats, IRC boats, One Design, etc. He has also won several races like Copa del Rey in Palma, Maxi Yacht Cup, Swan Cup, and many important races in the Spanish ORC circuit.

Basic info
  • Nationality: Spain
  • Position: Spain Regional Manager
Fluency

Spanish

Career highlights
  • Spain Tir (X-362)
  • Camper and Trasmediterranea (First 40, 7)
  • Freixenet (JV46)
  • Zurich (GP42 and BC41)
  • Fermax (GP42)
  • Santa Anna (JV57)
  • Siemmens Mobile (Farr 42)
  • Icaro (D44)
  • Garmin (DK46)
  • Iberdrola (Soto 40)
  • Copa del Rey Champion, 2007, 2008, 2009
  • ORC Non-Corinthians World Championship – 3rd place, 2007
  • Two-time ORC Spanish Champion
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