Hannah Wilks

Hannah joined Ocean Sailing Expeditions as a natural progression in her yachting career. As an RYA Cruising Instructor, she has a passion to share the wonder of sailing with everyone on board. Hannah first began sailing at Lake Taupo Yacht Club when still at primary school, in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. After leaving school, she did her qualifications with the Spirit of Adventure Trust, and spent two years sailing aboard their 123ft three-masted barquentine “Spirit of New Zealand”. She’s skippered, raced, cruised and delivered numerous yachts from 30 to 50 ft to various ports around NZ and has circumnavigated New Zealand several times. Hannah has taught both children and adults in a wide variety of dinghies, yachts and tall ships, as well as coaching competitive teams racing.

Hannah’s passion for sailing has taken her all the way to the North Sea and Scotland where she sailed on the 1911 built Brixham Trawler 'Boy Leslie' as mate during the 2023 cruising season and Tall Ship Races. She's also spent time sailing in Southampton Water, one of the world’s busiest stretches of water, on the south coast of Britain.

When not working on board sail cruising yachts Hannah can often be found cruising with friends or racing “round the cans” on board various keelboats, aboard which her knowledge and skills are much appreciated. Hannah also is learning how to wing foil on the pristine waters of Tasman Bay in her home of Nelson. If not on the water, Hannah can be found in the native NZ bush helping with conservation work or exploring her backyard. She enjoys music, reading books and growing her own veggies.