Join us next summer for a small-yacht sailing expedition along the postcard coastlines of France and the Channel Islands, designed especially for teenagers.
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can always adjust my sails to reach my destination.”
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The QBE* European Leadership School draws on the educational philosophy of Kurt Hahn and his votaries to provide a challenging, life-propulsive adventure for youngsters on classic, “no-frills-chic” sailboats. ELS crew members sail to under-the-radar ports and anchorages along the historic coastlines of western France and the Channel Islands, taking charge of the boats and learning to function efficiently as a team.
Nothing beats the camaraderie, daily adrenaline rushes, and personal satisfaction of small-yacht team sailing in our spectacular corner of Europe, especially when the expeditioners are allowed to make many of the decisions.
Make next summer special. Grab your deck shoes, some sunscreen, and join us in Brittany for a unique outdoor experience that beats most other outdoor adventure options hands down. Apply now for our June, July, or August expeditions!
Sail small, live large! Expeditionary education on amazing small yachts.
“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... 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.”
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*About us: QBE (Qualified By Experience) is a formidable summer enrichment project supported by a group of adventure enthusiasts who taught at or attended the same Swiss international school. Outdoor and cultural expeditions were 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 artisan-built pilot cutters on the market some years back, he immediately started working the phone to raise funds to purchase them. His idea was to make our own transformative teen experiences available to a broader market.
When it comes to boosting self-esteem, challenging expeditionary adventures (like small-yacht coastal sailing) can be the secret sauce. There’s nothing quite like the magic 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. You’ll be amazed at the difference a great adventure can make in a teen’s life trajectory. And what’s more, kids love it; many of our crewmates come back and do it again.
(Don’t wait until spring to apply—only 14 places are available per expedition. No previous sailing experience necessary. The language of instruction is English.)
new skills • new perspectives • new adrenaline rushes • new confidence