PARENTS: QBE (Qualified By Experience) is an internationally known teen sailing initiative supported by a group of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts who taught at or attended the same Swiss boarding school.

Outdoor and cultural expeditions were always mandatory for students, 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 artisan-built 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 our transformative teen experiences available to a broader group of youngsters.

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. 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 a great adventure can make in a teenager’s life trajectory. And what’s more, youngsters love it. In fact, many of our crew members come back and do it again.