Teens: Come sail magical European coastlines aboard our classic gaff-rig yachts. See how magical a summer-abroad adventure can be!
Expert sailing instruction | A treasure trove of winning college application essay ideas | Spectacular fun!
Come join an international crew of teens, catch the wind, and explore the charm-blessed coastlines of western France and the Channel Islands on our spectacular gaff-rig yachts. There’s no better way to learn the sport of traditional sailing, discover authentic Europe, and have a blast while you’re at it.
Our frequent destinations are right out of a lavishly illustrated coffee-table book. Our founder has an impressive expeditionary-education résumé burnished at one of Switzerland’s leading international schools. And each course is largely organized by crew members who take ownership of most of the everyday tasks, including navigating, trimming the sails, and taking turns at the wheel.
QBE employs a Socratic method of sailing instruction. Everyone learns by doing. In fact, it’s fair to say that after the first few days we don’t take you sailing as much as you take us sailing. We even allow you and your crewmates the latitude to get lost!
Nothing beats the camaraderie, daily adrenaline rushes, and game-changing personal satisfaction of small-yacht team sailing in our special corner of Europe. So why not feel the wind in your hair next summer? Experience first hand what others can only dream about.
Go find your deck shoes and join us for a summer-abroad sailing expedition that beats just about any other outdoor adventure option hands down. Instruction is in English.
—In 2023, we welcomed three international crews, including young expeditioners from the UK, France, the United States, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Norway, Poland, Greece, Canada, Turkey, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
About us:
QBE (Qualified By Experience) is a well-established expeditionary-learning initiative supported by a group of adventure sport enthusiasts who met years ago at a Swiss international school. Outdoor and cultural expeditions were mandatory there, and through the years, skiing, mountaineering, cycling, and sailing were the preferred outdoor options.
So when one of the school’s former expedition masters, a legendary sailing coach and outdoor educationalist, came across two rare pilot cutters on the market some years back, he reached out to some of his former pupils. With their help, he hatched a plan to make one of the most transformative outdoor experiences available to small crews of teens from a broad range of nationalities and backgrounds.
When it comes to boosting self-esteem, challenging outdoor adventures (like small-yacht blue-water sailing) can be pixie 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.
A crowd gathers to watch the QBE cutters arrive in port
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 of our students this past season have already signed up to join us again this summer.
Expeditions are in June (two weeks), July (three weeks), and August (three weeks).
Parents: 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 an unfiltered impact adventure, but a small-team sport where nobody sits on the bench; every crew member plays 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.
“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... She came home with a new take on life and wanting more for herself. As a parent l also learnt from the experience of having to let go and trust my daughter that she could handle being away from home for three weeks. I can only highly recommend this course. She has kept in touch with friends that she made and they bonded over late nights, Breton dancing in Lorient, eating countless French crêpes, the laughter and the tears when saying goodbye. 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.””
““I am fully confident in recommending [QBE director Will Sutherland] very highly to you.””
Click on/tap the button below to learn more, or you can call us to discuss our sailing expeditions. (Use WhatsApp or Skype to reach us free from anywhere. But remember, we’re on Central European Time: New York +6)
No previous sailing experience necessary | Staff–crew member ratio—1:3 | Safety Record: Impeccable
