If a great European adventure is on your “before-I-head-off-to-university” bucket list, make it something special. Join us in Saint-Malo, on the French Atlantic coast, for an adventure most teens only dream of, and one you’ll remember for the rest of your life: a singular maritime expedition aboard our signature pilot cutters—some of the most remarkable small sailing yachts ever designed. Discover the Atlantic coastline of authentic France as well as vibrant seaside towns and idyllic moorings in the British Channel Islands. You don't have to be extremely fit or an experienced sailor, just ready for an extraordinary experience!

Three summer expeditions are available for teens; spring and autumn expeditions are available for adults. Special accommodations can be made for high school groups and faculty.

PARENTS:

QBE (Qualified By Experience) is an internationally known experiential-learning initiative supported by a group of adventure sport enthusiasts who all attended the same Swiss school. Outdoor and cultural expeditions were mandatory, and through the years, skiing, mountaineering, cycling, and sailing were the most popular outdoor options.

So when one of the school’s former expedition masters came across two artisan-built pilot cutters on the market a number of years ago, he hatched the idea of making one of the school’s most transformative teen experiences available to small crews from culturally diverse backgrounds.

When it comes to boosting self-esteem, challenging outdoor adventures (like small-yacht blue-water sailing) can be fairy dust, 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 on a traditional boat, unless it’s the pride crew members feel when pulling into port after a busy 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 a great 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. Several 2022 participants joined us again in 2023.

Expeditions set sail in June (three weeks), July (three weeks), and August (two weeks).

You may never have even considered sending your teen on a summer sailing expedition, much less one along the French coast. But no matter where you live, you should. It’s not only a life-propulsive adventure, but a small-team sport where nobody “sits on the bench”; every crew member has an important role.

Contact us. Or drop in to see us. Let’s talk. We’d love the opportunity to discuss our unique expeditions and explain what makes QBE’s European Leadership School (ELS) special. References on request.