Teens: Come find your swagger in Europe this summer on a QBE outdoor leadership course at sea!
“Nothing builds self-esteem and confidence like accomplishment.””
…And nothing beats the daily adrenaline rushes and life-elevating experiences of a QBE* outdoor leadership course at sea. Our handcrafted gaff-rig boats are what you might call “no-frills chic.” Our frequent destinations are right out of a coffee-table book. And each expedition is largely organized by crew members who take ownership of most of the everyday tasks, including navigating and taking turns at the wheel. We’ll even give you and your new friends the latitude to get lost!
Grab your deck shoes and join us this summer on the French Atlantic coast for an amazing sailing expedition along the postcard French and British coastlines.
Expeditions in June, July, and August.
Don’t wait, places are limited. Enroll now!
PARENTS:
QBE (Qualified By Experience) is a top-shelf personal-development initiative supported by a group of like-minded adventure 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 outdoor activities of choice. So when one of our former expedition masters came across two rare 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 experiences available to a larger market.
When it comes to boosting self-esteem and leadership skills, 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. 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. It’s simply a fact that self-esteem is a powerful catalyst for academic and career success. Parents and educators are constantly amazed at the difference an impact adventure can make in a teenager’s life trajectory. And what’s more, youngsters love it. In fact, many of our crew members ask to come back and do it again.
“As a young teenager, back in the 1980s, at the urging from my parents, I was fortunate to experience crewing for a large luxury charter yacht company over several seasons in the Mediterranean. I began as an inexperienced green deckhand, then bosun, then engineer, 1st mate, and in my early twenties became a USCG Licensed Master Captain to captain those same yachts throughout the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. Without question, my time at sea at a young age was the single most important experience in my life and an educational asset I use everyday. I am in my 60s today.
It is with great enthusiasm that I write this letter of reference for QBE Sailing Camp. Ironically, now our son, who is 17 years old, has attended the camp for several years, and we have witnessed first-hand the remarkable impact it has had on his personal growth and development.
Each summer, he has returned more confident, independent, and self-reliant. The camp environment fosters responsibility and maturity, while also providing an extraordinary opportunity to connect with others from diverse backgrounds. He has gained a meaningful understanding of European cultures, developed lifelong friendships, and learned to navigate new experiences with poise and curiosity.
Among the vast nautical and sailing instruction, the travel experiences along the French Atlantic coast have been nothing short of incredible. The combination of adventure, exploration, and cultural immersion has enriched his outlook in ways that few programs could offer. We are especially grateful for the dedicated staff at QBE who create such a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment for young people to thrive.
We wholeheartedly recommend QBE Sailing Camp as a transformative experience that not only builds sailing skills but also shapes character, independence, and a true appreciation for global connections.
”
EXTRAORDINARY EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS • VALUES FOR SUCCESS • NEW GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
No sailing experience necessary | The language of instruction is English | Safety record: Impeccable