Join us for one of next summer’s best enrichment options for teens: a world-class European sailing expedition along spectacular coastlines, organized in part by our small teams of student adventurers.
It’s so-o-o much more than a sailing course. It’s where young adults find the confidence to meet the moment and become changemakers.
Ranked among the top-five key “teen adventure sailing” options by Perplexity—and the only one in Europe:
”Their unique ‘worldschool’ format and old-school sailing instruction on classic vessels make them a leader for teens seeking epic sailing adventures in Europe.”
Consider: In August 2025, eight of twelve crew members were returning for their second, third or fourth QBE expedition! That should say it all—if you want a place, apply early!
“Just wanted to say a huge thank you again for providing such an amazing, unique and absolutely cool experience! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I stumbled upon this program online but decided it looked perfect for my teenage girl. [She] set off on the three-week sailing expedition, but within a week was begging to stay on for a second expedition.
She loved everything about what wound up being seven weeks at sea ... sailing, sleeping and cooking aboard, exploring the marina towns and festivals, the change-over week and especially new friends and mentors from all over the world. To say she enjoyed it and that it was life changing would be an understatement!
I love hearing all the stories that just keep coming! She will definitely be back next year! ...I’m happy to provide references to any parent considering this program for their teenager.
Thank you again!!””
What every crew member gets:
• Expert traditional sailing instruction on classic 14m/46ft yachts
• Exposure to authentic French culture and traditions
* Team leadership mentoring in an environment where seamless teamwork is essential for success. (We often set out to sail up to 1,600 km/1,000 miles. Distances can vary due to winds and weather.)
• A treasure trove of university admission essay ideas
• Course certification 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 camp emphasizes instruction in traditional sailing, cultural discovery, marine coastal ecology, and team-success coaching.
Our head-turning gaff-rig pilot cutters, authentically constructed by a master artisan boatwright, are unmistakably “old-school chic.” Our frequent destinations are right out of a coffee-table book. And each expedition 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—No French required.
• QBE has welcomed adventurous crew members from six continents (not to mention our frequent dolphin pod escorts).
World-class teen enrichment aboard classic 46ft yachts. There’s nothing else quite like it.
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 cocurricular 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.
You may have never 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 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.
“NOTE TO PARENTS:
Never considered European sailing as a summer enrichment option for your 15–18-year-old? You should.
Sailing is one of the most life-elevating, confidence-building lifestyle sports there is—a unique blend of adventure, upskilling, and exceptional fun. One of our recent students had never even stepped on a sailboat before joining us. As a result of his QBE adventure, he decided to attend a merchant marine academy. Many others return for a second, third, or even fourth voyage. Some have done two expeditions in a single summer! So, what makes it so special? The short answer is, it’s the coolest thing many teens will ever get the opportunity to do as youngsters. But more specifically:
✅ Our head-turning classic yachts (Few people get the opportunity to go sailing on boats like ours.)
✅ The historic, charm-blessed coastlines of Brittany and the Channel Isles
✅ And most of all, the constant personal attention we give each and every crew member
Add to that the well-documented therapeutic effects of time spent in “blue spaces,” and you’ve got an experience that’s as centering as it is exhilarating.
For over three decades, we’ve never left a young life where we found it.”
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 assistance available | Safety record: Impeccable