Retired Investment Analyst Sets Sail Around the World

BY: .

Alumnus and former UKZN Economics lecturer, Mr Hans Hamre has swapped his career as an investment analyst for a life of adventure, sailing around the world.

After living in London for over 32 years, Hamre was inspired to take up sailing as he reflected on how to make the most of his life, driven by the sobering reality of friends experiencing premature deaths or uninspiring retirements.

At 57, Hamre purchased a 40-foot Dufour yacht, named: Manuka, resigned from his job, and rented out his house before setting sail across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Islands. Little did he know that his journey would eventually bring him back to his hometown of Durban three years later.

‘I initially spent two years in the Caribbean exploring the different islands, including a five-month stint where I visited Columbia, Panama and Costa Rica,’ he said.

After reaching Central America in mid-2023, Hamre sailed through the Pacific, reaching as far as Fiji. Toward the end of the year, he continued to New Zealand, where he spent six months. By July 2024, his voyage took him to Australia, across the Indian Ocean to Mauritius, the Réunion Islands, and finally to Durban.

‘The journey from Réunion to Durban was particularly gruelling,’ Hamre shared. ‘It took 12 days to cover 1 450 nautical miles. It was fairly slow, and after sailing so much over the past four months, I was eager to get home, which made it frustrating.’

Hamre faced several challenges during the 12-day voyage, including malfunctioning sliders and a failed water pump. ‘Fortunately, the wind picked up enough for the foresail alone to be sufficient, so I didn’t need the mainsail sliders,’ he explained. ‘As for water, I relied on 5-litre plastic bottles refilled from 20-litre jerry cans since the water tanks were out of service.’

Hamre comes from a lineage of seafarers. Hamre’s father, Erik, was a whaler, captain and gunner for the Union Whaling Company, operating out of Durban until it closed in 1975. His grandfather, Hans, served as a war sailor. Reflecting on his journey, Hamre said he never imagined he would one day follow in their footsteps, sailing solo across the Indian Ocean and into the Port of Durban.

‘The occasion was made even more special by the welcoming party of old friends, as everywhere else I had sailed in as a complete stranger,’ said Hamre. ‘I’m looking forward to a break from the sea with a vacation in the Drakensberg mountains - I’ve had enough of water to last me a while,’ he chuckled.

To stay updated on Hamre’s travels, follow his blog, Sailing Manuka.

Words: Hlengiwe Khwela

Photograph: Albert Hirasen