At the start of 2023 we wanted to try and push on with integrating the sleeve and sail body - this was to try and improve the shape off the luff into the sail body with no sleeve intersection. Also to combine this with a move to having the draft further back. This change was to help balance the boats and improve performance in lighter winds and downwind.

We also reintroduced the Membrane option as this was central to the new concept.

In 2023 Quantum offered the Tyra / iLEX sails which Lennon Sails had developed in 2021/22 and had won many events. We are phasing out these sails for 2024 as the new membrane Fusion integrated designs outperform the legacy designs.

The concept sail we sent out in January 2023 went to Harry Melges for winter testing in Pensacola. Harry comfortably won the events there and was convinced on the step forward. Under pressure from sailors at those events and training camps, we released the design after a very short development phase.

These sails were fast but a little untidy and lacking robustness due to the short development turnaround. That design, coded QAX went on to finish 2nd at the ill fated Weymouth worlds. Whilst not a true worlds, as not enough races were completed, Jean - Baptiste Bernez claimed his second place result overall at his first worlds. Jean was one of our new team sailors in 2023 and has just taken delivery of the new version 2 - QAX to evaluate between his ILCA (Laser) commitments leading up to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

After the Weymouth worlds, we doubled down on improving the QAX ( 8.2m2) and the QHX (7.5m2) to fair up the vertical shape distribution and add toughness to the skins. The early versions were an immediate successes, with Dave Hivey winning events in the UK and Germany.

Quantum went on to take the French nationals and German Nationals as the racing season drew to a close. Eddie Bridle and Philipp Buhl respectively taking the titles - Both have now got Version 2 QAX designs.

Like Jean, Philipp has ILCA duties to perform leading up to Paris but will be fitting in Moth practice when time allows.

Henry Wetherell joined the development team in the Autumn and has been testing V2 for several months. We have incorporated many of the changes into the QHX ( 7.5 ) and will be adding a 7.8m2 version for 2024.

V2 sounds like one iteration on from the design which Jean took 2nd place with in Weymouth, however there were several design iterations before settling on the new design for 2024.

Customisation

Another variability is the DS foot length. This has been pushed longer and longer forcing us to move the mainsheet fittings aft and have to relearn to tack and gybe ! We offer several sizes currently. 900mm is “old standard” which fits on unmodified boats and booms. 1050mm we think is a great compromise and is very popular with Bieker owners. 1100mm is also popular with 1150 and 1200 in equal measure. The lighter sailors prefer the longer DS lengths. This does however require boat and boom modification on older boats.

We also offer 1250mm DS foot length. The longer the DS the more area is pulled down below the boom reducing the heeling force. However on lighter days these sails are more tricky and later to foil.