Walks in the woods

Kuzey showed a little excitement while out with his fellow crew members on a nature walk near Lorient …and you thought he saw a snake!

FWIW: There are six species of «serpents » found in Brittany, but only two are (mildly) venomous, and they are both rare. Be advised that it is illegal in France to kill snakes, even poisonous ones. You can be fined and even sent to prison for two years for dispatching one. So—some may ask—what are you supposed to do if you find yourself suddenly face to face with two beady eyes and a forked tongue? Faint? You know some people are going to resort to self-defense. Grandparents may remember that old Paul Revere and The Raiders’ song, “Him or Me, What’s It Gonna Be?”

Greetings from Brittany

… having a GREAT time, wish you were here!

June 2023 Expedition Pics

June 2023 Expedition Update

After stops in Binic, Saint-Quay, and Lézardrieux, we’re off to Roscoff on Saturday. The weather has been terrific, though we could use more wind in our sails.

The crew of Yseult at Binic-Étables-sur-mer

Learning how to steer a cutter! And though of course you can’t hear it, there’s always an expedition soundtrack; music is playing almost all the time. Playlist details later.

Binic Harbour

If it’s May, it’s almost time to go sailing. Finally.

Every year, before the season starts, we take our pilot cutters around to the boatyard to have them antifouled and checked out below the waterline. Here they are waiting their turns. Click or tap here to learn more about our boats.

Brittany: check out our neighborhood!

Not only is Brittany one of France’s best sailing areas, it’s spectacularly beautiful and unforgettably charming. images: ©Océane Le Gall. https://oceanelegall.fr

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“Third cities” and “Fourth towns”

“Everybody goes to the same handful of sites. If you just go to those sites, you’re going to have a trip that is shaped by crowds. Or you can break free from that and realize that you can study the options and choose sites that are best for you. You can go to alternative places that have that edge and that joy and that creative kind of love of life. ‘Second cities,’ I call them.”
”

— Rick Steves, Travel Guide Writer & TV Host, excerpted from The Atlantic

If you’re a parent or guardian of a teen for whom a trip to France would mean a first trip overseas, chances are good that that trip will be a seminal experience. So that prompts a question: what sort of experience should that ideally be? Nobody would suggest that first-time visitors to France shouldn’t try to see such must-see landmarks as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, or Versailles. But during the summer, Paris is invaded by throngs of tourists. Visitors spend hours waiting in long lines and often have to jostle their way through the hoards, trying to keep from getting pickpocketed. It can be just as exhausting and frustrating as enriching. Many tourists can’t wait to get home.

A QBE expedition makes for a different type of European exposure. Most of our destinations are the “alternative places” Steves talks about—small ports where a traditional way of life still survives: folkways, local cuisine, architecture, even traditional languages: e.g., Breton in Brittany, Jèrriais (Jersey French) in Jersey, and Guernésiais (Guernsey French) in Guernsey. And that’s part of what makes a QBE expedition such a unique—even once-in-a-lifetime—adventure. Still, as we’ve suggested before, there’s no reason you can’t have your gâteau and eat it, too. Just tack on a few extra days to visit a cultural capital as well the provinces.

One of the great benefits of sailing

At sea, you get the opportunity to rediscover your maternal language—SILENCE

Wind in our wings: Helping our crew members to soar

“They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.””

— Isaiah 40:31

Repost: Wings of Inspiration by Polish photographer Dariusz Klimczak. www.kwadrart.com (not our boats)

QBE expeditions are about learning to sail. They’re about exploring postcard ports and coastlines. They’re about discovering new cultures with all their historic wonders, artisanal treasures, and distinctive cuisine. But—though hard to articulate—they’re also about the nourishment that small-group traditional sailing provides for the soul and the confidence that flows from it. It’s one of those things you just have to experience to truly appreciate.

Reserve your place now for next season

Hey parents and grandparents! Do something special for your teen next summer: let him/her experience the romance and excitement of an old-school European sailing expedition on our gaff-rig pilot cutters. And why not?

✅ Sailing is a safe team sport in which everybody gets to participate

✅ It’s a top-shelf life skill

✅ Crew members not only learn to sail, they explore, discover, and expand their horizons

✅ There are no ticks or mosquitoes in our sailing area

✅ A QBE expedition is a singular coming-of-age experience that makes for winning university admission essays

✅ Sailing is spectacular fun

Next summer will be here before you know it, and several applications already have been submitted for the 2023 season. So reserve your place(s) now on an unforgettable small-group sailing adventure. If you know somebody else who might be interested in a European sailing expedition next July or August, forward them a link to our website or send us their coordinates and we’ll send them some information.
* A QBE sailing expedition makes a great birthday, Holiday, or graduation gift—a present that will pay dividends next summer and for years to come.

QBE Outdoor Education—live-aboard team sailing and personal development for 15–18 year olds. Trusted by parents since 1992. Instruction is in English, French also spoken.