Join us for a singular international enrichment program for high-school students: a world-class European sailing expedition along the historic, charm-blessed coastlines of France and the channel Isles.
Unique. Expansively Educational. Centering.
In fact, There’s really nothing else quite like it.
“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… To say that it was a sailing trip does not do justice to her ‘growing up’ experiences.””
• Expert traditional sailing instruction on classic 46ft yachts
• Exposure to authentic European culture and traditions
* Team leadership mentoring in an environment where seamless teamwork is essential for success. (We often set a goal of 1,000 miles in a single expedition!)
• A treasure trove of university admission essay ideas
• Certificates of course completion to prove new sailing bona fides
• Special memories for a lifetime
Itineraries include:
✅ Historic sites
✅ Museums
✅ Local festivals
✅ World-famous cultural attractions
The QBE European Leadership School (ELS), known for its signature classic yachts, serves up impact sailing adventures for high-school students along the culturally rich coastlines of Brittany and the Channel Isles. Each expedition emphasizes instruction in traditional sailing, cultural discovery, marine coastal ecology, and team-success coaching.
Our head-turning gaff-rig pilot cutters, authentically constructed by an artisan boatwright, are unmistakably “old-school chic.” Our frequent destinations are right out of a coffee-table book. And each voyage is largely organized by a (very) small international group of crew members who take ownership of practically all everyday tasks, including navigating, helping prepare meals, and taking turns at the wheel.
We even give our crews the latitude to get lost! (so we can teach them how to get their bearings)
If you’re looking for a singular adventure next summer, one that actually can change the trajectory of young lives, find some deck shoes and join us in Saint-Malo.
The staff–to-student ratio is 1:3. Instruction is in English.
Since 2023, we’ve welcomed crew members from the UK, France, the United States, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Norway, Greece, Switzerland, Canada, Turkey/Portugal, Croatia, and New Zealand. Several have told us they’re coming back this summer.
A world-class live-aboard sailing adventure for teens.
*OUR STORY: QBE (Qualified By Experience) is an internationally acclaimed expeditionary-learning initiative supported by a group of adventure sport enthusiasts who all met at a Swiss school that emphasized challenging co-curricular experiences. Outdoor and cultural expeditions were mandatory for all students, and through the years, skiing, mountaineering, cycling, and sailing were the among most popular options.
“Expeditionary education is often associated with adventure education, outdoor education, environmental education or experiential education and refers specifically to learning associated with exploration and journey-based experiences or expeditions within these fields. Usually involving elements of challenge, adventure and leadership, expeditionary education can take place in a variety of settings...””
In 2009, one of the school’s former expedition masters—an outdoor education entrepreneur and advocate of “learning-by-experiencing”—came across two rare pilot cutters up for sale. He immediately hatched a plan to acquire them and make one of the school’s most transformative teen activities available to youngsters from a broad range of backgrounds. With the backing of some of his former students, “QBE Adventure Sailing” became the new focus of QBE Outdoor Education’s European Leadership School.
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.
A crowd gathers to watch a QBE cutter pass by
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.
What’s more, teens love it; many of our crew members ask to come back and do it again.
Coastal yachting is not just a horizon-expanding adventure, but also a life-elevating small-team sport where nobody sits on the bench; every crew member plays an important role.
References on request.
You can read an English translation of a recent Bateaux.com article about QBE’s unique “learning by doing” philosophy here.
Click or tap to watch what some of our expeditioners had to say about their QBE adventure.
“NOTE TO PARENTS:
Never even thought about European sailing as a summer enrichment option for your 15–18-year old? Well, you should. Sailing is one of the most addictive and life-elevating lifestyle sports there is. In fact, we had a student recently who previously had never set foot on a sailboat decide to attend a merchant marine academy after spending a few weeks with us. Many others come back for another go. The QBE experience is just that special.
Our remarkable classic yachts; our historic, charm-blessed sailing area; and the generous personal attention paid to each participant make for an unequaled summer adventure. And then there’s the therapeutic effect of days in blue spaces.
Call or e-mail us. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have. Don’t miss out on this centering, life-changing opportunity for youngsters. For over three decades, we’ve never left our expeditioners’ lives where we’ve found them.”
All major credit cards accepted, so you can pay securely and with confidence.
life-elevating adventure • expert sailing instruction • NEW GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
No sailing experience necessary | Transportation available to and from Paris airports | Safety record: Impeccable