Sail Orcas has hired Orcas Island native Hannah Tuson-Turner as its new sailing director.

She will oversee all sailing programs, including teaching the adult learn-to-sail lessons, coaching the Orcas High School sailing team, serving as the head instructor for the middle school exploratory sailing lessons and supervisor of the summer junior lessons.

This fall, they will be able to offer a full high school fall racing program.

Tuson-Turner learned to sail with the Orcas summer junior lesson program when she was eight. She was a founding member of the 2002 OIHS sailing team, went on to sail for the University of Hawaii and is currently a Level 3 U.S. Sailing professional coach.

After moving back to Orcas this summer, her presence was immediately felt as she was the guest head coach for a week-long advanced racing clinic, coaching 22 sailors from around the Pacific Northwest.

For the past year Tuson-Turner was the junior sailing program director for the Encinal Yacht Club in Alemeda, Calif, overseeing extensive year-long racing and learn-to-sail programs. Prior to Encinal she spent three years as director of the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club’s junior program, where she created community year-round learn-to-sail programs and a high school team.

“Hannah’s involvement with Sail Orcas will help us to create sustainable programs for the next generations of Orcas sailors,” say representatives. “Welcome back to Orcas, Hannah.”