The QBE European Leadership School (ELS), known for its signature traditional boats and “worldschool” format, offers small-group sailing adventures for high-school students along postcard-worthy French and British coastlines.

Each maritime camp emphasizes old-school sailing instruction, cultural discovery, and life-success skills (small-group sailing is one of the most effective outdoor leadership platforms there is).

Our artisan-built classic boats are a delight to sail. Our frequent destinations are right out of a lavishly illustrated coffee-table book. And each expedition is largely organized by an international group of crew members who take ownership of most of the everyday tasks, including navigating, trimming the sails, and taking turns at the wheel.

After an initial orientation, our instructors are there mostly to make some suggestions, answer questions, and make sure our crews and cutters are never in danger. Think of the QBE teaching approach as the Socratic method applied to yachting. In fact, it’s fair to say we don’t take our crew members sailing as much as they take us sailing.

We even allow our students the latitude to get lost (so we can show them how to get their bearings)!

Along the way, we visit museums, historic sites, and local cultural attractions. When the calendar allows, we’re even able to participate in classic boat regattas and attend regional festivals.

Nothing beats the camaraderie, daily adrenaline rushes, and game-changing personal satisfaction of small-group team sailing. So, if you're looking for an epic European adventure this summer, join us in Saint-Malo for something truly out of the ordinary. (All instruction is in English.)

—In 2023, we welcomed three international crews, including expeditioners from the UK, France, the United States, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Norway, Poland, Greece, Canada, Turkey, Switzerland, and New Zealand.

*About Us: QBE (Qualified By Experience) is a top-shelf adventure sailing initiative supported by a group of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts who taught at or attended the same Swiss international school.

Outdoor and cultural expeditions were always mandatory for us, and through the years, skiing, mountaineering, cycling, and sailing were the options of choice. So when one of our expedition masters came across two head-turning pilot cutters on the market a number of years ago, he immediately started working the phone to raise funds to purchase them. His idea was to make one of the school’s most transformative outdoor experiences available to a larger cohort of young adults.

When it comes to boosting self-esteem, challenging outdoor adventures (like small-yacht open-water sailing) can be the secret sauce, especially when participants are given the reins to make many of their own expedition decisions. That’s why so many top schools have adopted and now swear by expeditionary learning activities.

As for QBE sailing, there’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of cutting through the water with a strong breeze in your sails, unless it’s the pride you feel when pulling into port after a challenging day on the water.

And unlike, say, a wilderness trek, there are also the daily revelations that come from discovering our sailing area’s vibrant ports, cultural sites, and regional cuisine.

Participants go home feeling they’ve taken their lives to a new level…because they have.

It’s simply a fact that self-esteem is a powerful catalyst for academic and career success. You’ll be amazed at the difference an impact adventure can make in a young adult’s life trajectory. And what’s more, teens love it; many of our crew members ask to come back and do it again.

We’re always happy to provide references.