Leadership at sea

Set sail on a 37-foot sailboat and experience the adventure of living aboard as you eat, sleep, learn about and explore the stunning Gulf Islands.

Leadership at Sea: Experiential Sailing in the Pacific Northwest is a six-day live-aboard sailing course in the coastal waters of British Columbia’s Southern Gulf Islands. Participants live, sail, and learn together aboard a cruising sailboat, taking an active role in daily life onboard — from sail handling, navigation, cooking, anchoring, and resource management to shared decision-making and group reflection.

 

This course uses sailing as a hands-on learning environment where participants explore identity, leadership, sustainability, and risk through direct experience. Life aboard naturally requires communication, teamwork, adaptability, and mutual support. Participants will learn how to work together in a small shared space, make decisions in changing conditions, and reflect on their role within a group.

GULF ISLANDS

The course also builds environmental awareness through close engagement with the marine environment. Participants will experience low-impact living firsthand by managing limited resources such as water, food, energy, and waste, while exploring their relationship to consumption, stewardship, and ocean conservation.

Throughout the expedition, participants will develop practical seamanship skills, including basic navigation, sail handling, knots, safety procedures, and onboard operations. The program works toward completion of the ISPA Competent Crew certification, where applicable.

 

Guided reflection, journaling, group discussions, and shore-based learning help participants connect daily experiences to broader themes of sustainability, responsibility, confidence, and active citizenship. By the end of the course, participants will have gained practical sailing skills, strengthened their communication and teamwork, developed greater self-awareness, and built a deeper connection to the natural world.

WHATS INCLUDED

    • 6 days of sailing instruction aboard a 37-foot sailboat

    • All meals onboard

    • Pre-trip materials and course materials

    • Certification as Competent Crew (ISPA)

    • Fuel and docking fees

    • Access to scenic anchorages and wildlife-rich areas

     

    *Price does not include traveling expenses to and from starting/finish locations

    *If you have specific accessibility needs related to communication (for example, visual or hearing accommodations),

    please let us know and we’ll adapt how we share trip information.*

    More info

      Dates: 9-14 July 2026

      Location: Sidney (Victoria), BC, Canada

      Language of Course Facilitation: English

       

      Requirements:

      1. Eligible applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 18 during the programme.
      2. Applicants must have the time, capacity, and access to the necessary technology, including Wi-Fi and a computer, to complete the required online training material before the course.
      3. Participants must be able to communicate in English and be willing to learn new concepts, terminology, and practical skills related to sailing.
      4. Applicants should be comfortable living in small shared spaces and willing to work through interpersonal challenges in a respectful and constructive way. They must be ready to actively participate in all aspects of the course, including sailing, cooking, shared onboard responsibilities, and daily life in a communal live-aboard environment.

      How to Apply: Applications open here.

      Application Deadline: June 29th 2026

      Course Fee: CAD 7000

       

      Scholarship Information:

      Scholarship Information:
      There are four participant places available. One place is fully scholarship-funded, two places are full-fee paying, and one place is partially funded at 50%.

       

      The course fee includes all costs during the 6-day programme, including accommodation onboard, meals, instruction, course materials, and planned group activities.

       

      Scholarships cover the course entry cost only. Unfortunately, national and international flights are not included in the scholarship or partial funding support.

       

      For participants arriving in British Columbia, we may be able to help organize and cover local transportation costs, including BC Ferries foot-passenger fares from Vancouver to Victoria, SkyTrain or public transit from the airport, and local buses in Victoria.

       

      Scholarship and partial funding support will be allocated based on financial need, applicant motivation, and alignment with the goals of the course. Applicants requesting financial support should indicate this in their application and may be asked to provide a short explanation of their need.

       

      Specific provisions for NC-referred students can be considered in coordination with UWC as part of the final selection and funding process.