“While [our son] hasn’t made his way back to New Zealand just yet I have heard such a wonderful account of this amazing experience under your care and guidance. It truly sounds like a trip of a lifetime—one of those defining moments in life that is never forgotten. [...]We truly appreciate the phenomenal opportunity he was given, teaching [him] not only sailing but life skills along the way.
Thank you and best wishes to you all.””

“[My daughter] is back in London in one piece. She absolutely loved her time with you. Huge thanks to Will and the awesome crew!”

“The 2023 July expedition was an unforgettable and life-changing experience for our 15 year old. He greatly developed his autonomy and ability to work in a team. But, most importantly, he had great fun and made a lot of new friendships: the most exciting holiday ever!””

“Thank you Will and Guy. What an incredible experience this has been for our children. Thanks to all involved.”

“Thank you! Thank you for everything! That was a life-changing trip and [my son] hopes to return next year! [And he did.}”

“During this summer, I faced an absolutely new experience. Only at the end did I realize how much I had learned from it, but above all, it was fun. While boating is not one of my favorite hobbies, I had a lot of fun making new friends and discovering and learning new things that I feel could become useful in the future. What seemed like three long weeks [...] at the beginning [...] went by very fast.”

“I just wanted to say thanks a million to you, Christophe and Guy for giving [our daughter] such a fantastic experience [...] I’m sure everyone got something from it that they will take with them.””

“In 2022, my wife and I believed that our son Lorenzo, who had just turned eighteen, needed an experience without his family—to live with someone, somewhere, for a while, outside his familiar patterns and rules.
We considered QBE for their particular out-of-the-box group sailing activity and was swayed by my personal acquaintance with Will Sutherland, a truly good leader. I’ve known him well since my school days, when he was my teacher and housemaster at Aiglon College [Switzerland].
The first few days we heard regularly from Lorenzo over the phone, then less, and then nothing. Upon his return he was happy and we parents were relieved.
Lorenzo didn’t love sailing before, and maybe even today he hasn’t become a huge sailing fan, however I think he’s proud of that holiday. The long voyages, learning new things, the evening outings with his companions and the skippers and the group visits to unusual places.
Will establishes his own relationship with each boy and identifies in a simple and natural way the opportunities and areas for self-esteem growth. I was fortunate to have experienced this myself years ago, and it was confirmed once again with my son. At home we joke about this extra generational relationship with Will.”
”

“As a parent l can say that my daughter’s three weeks with QBE in August 2023 has been the single most remarkable experience of her life. She was lucky to have this opportunity as a teenager. To say that it was a sailing trip does not do justice to her ‘growing up’ experiences. She gained sailing and sea skills that she is now able to build on and is pursuing her sailing instructor’s certificate. She also faced valuable ‘growing up’ moments of having to navigate meeting and living with new people, working as a team member, dealing with unpredictable weather that frustrated progress and meeting goals set by the leaders. She came home with a new take on life and wanting more for herself. As a parent l also learnt from the experience of having to let go and trust my daughter that she could handle being away from home for three weeks. I can only highly recommend this course. She has kept in touch with friends that she made and they bonded over late nights, Breton dancing in Lorient, eating countless French crepes, the laughter and the tears when saying goodbye. The expression ‘life changing’ can sound like a cliché, but the QBE course brings life changing memories and a whole new perspective on life that the world is indeed as big as their dreams. It was the adventure of a lifetime.” ”

“I would like to thank you for creating this amazing program!! [My daughter] absolutely loved it. She loved Guy and Christophe and all the kids. When I asked her what was the best thing about it she said, “Will creates an environment where you get to meet and work with amazing people.” [...] She hopes to come back next summer! I’m so glad I sent her and I thank you for devoting yourself to the development of young people.”

“ It’s clear (or should be) that young kids aren’t meant to sit in classrooms and libraries all day, that they learn best by doing. Certainly I’ve seen this with my own children. Yet we’re stuck with a one-size-fits-all system everywhere that just isn’t serving them.
To this day I remember doing my first abseil with you and thinking as I edged toward that cliff edge that, despite all the ropes and buckles linking me to safety, that what I was about to do would definitely kill me, then making my way down and, at the bottom, feeling on top of the world. I also know that that I would not be where I am today had I not had that experience. So many alumni have told me the same thing.
Something like [QBE sailing expeditions] offer real hope....”

“If you have children (or grandchildren) who will be 15-18 years old this summer, please look at this opportunity. I have known the founder of this organization since I benefitted from his guidance, mentorship, and coaching as a teenager. Will Sutherland has an innate gift for connecting with kids (and adults, for that matter!) in guiding personal development and growth.

I cannot conceive of a more powerful and positive experience for a young person than one of these 2 or 3-week learning-at-sea experiences. I had the great privilege of spending a day aboard one of these beautiful pilot cutters under Will’s expert skippering just over a year ago.””

“I have known Will Sutherland for thirty years. We first met at Aiglon College in Switzerland when he was an experienced and successful House Master.

I soon found out the excellent reputation Will had both as a House Master in two different boys’ houses and Head of Sports. He possesses great empathy, and the boys could always count on his support and guidance to remain or get back on the right track. He ran his house a little like he would now run a crew, creating a sense of collaboration, effort and cohesion which, in the words of so many old boys whom I met in subsequent years, prepared them thoroughly for their adult lives.

I am fully confident in recommending him very highly to you.”