Making the case for outdoor teen adventure. Discover the many advantages and unique cultural dimensions of a European sailing expedition at sea. | European adventure blog • European sailing blog • European outdoor adventure blog • Adventure cruising blog • Under-the-radar Europe blog • Off-the-beaten-path Europe blog • European teen adventure blog • Teen sailing blog • European camp blog
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
Here's a question: What do several Hollywood movie stars and directors, a Formula One racing champion, numerous high-profile CEOs, ambassadors, and even a few members of the world's royal families have in common? Answer: They all have children who once were coached, taught, or mentored by ELS director Will Sutherland.
A number of years ago, several of us involved in the European Leadership School attended boarding school In Switzerland—in a ski resort no less. We skied almost every day. In those days learning how to ski was painful; you spent more time on your rear end than standing upright. But after you got the hang of it, the sport grew on you. And by the end of the season you were hooked. You couldn't imagine life without a mountain and ski lift in your back yard.
Sailing a classic yacht is the same sort of proposition. The first day bobbing up and down in the water, trying to figure out what you're doing, can be a little unnerving. But by the end of the first week, you're addicted. And by the end of the course, you feel like some sort of James Bond—smoothly operating at a new altitude in magical European destinations. (For what it's worth, we think our cutters are cooler (if less luxurious) than that boat Daniel Craig and Eva Green used to make their entrance into Venice in Casino Royale.) Anyway, sailing, like skiing, is a sport you simply have to try to fully appreciate. Video images on a screen don't do it justice. And yachting should come with a warning: potentially mind altering.
