To lock up with our teens in a sailboat, which does at best a few tens of square meters, would be the last thing to do if we listen « pontoon radio ». Laurent Marion, founder of the training centre specializing in Blue Water Sailing, Escale Technical Training, has a completely opposite opinion « We often hear that it's complicated to go with teenagers, while it's a great life experience to go with them! ».
Laurent himself left in 2020 with his three teenagers aged 12, 14 and 16 for a tour of the Atlantic which still remains a strong federative memory for the family. Bénédicte and Loïc Helies say nothing else. They're finishing a first round of the world with 3 kids including a 12-year-old for whom the years « College on board » went very well from any point of view. Benedict tells the story « our senior came back bilingual because his best friends were American, with a good academic level, but above all the taste of sport and outdoor life, a great sense of responsibility, respect for adults, a lot of autonomy... » They do not stop there, since they leave for a second round of the world between 2021 and 2024 with the two youngest aged 8 and 12 at the time of departure, 12 and 15 years at the time of arrival. An enriching experience for the whole family, which allowed their children, though all very different, to develop a true complicity.
« They're going to scold »
Finally, what scares us about getting our teenagers into this adventure? Whether they grumble, bother, or do not adhere to our project and in a way spoil our dream? « Clearly, we can't talk to teenagers the same way we talk to young children. We must have a transparent speech, we must involve them in the project, and we must take their views into account. » Explain Benedict and Loïc. Preparing the departure with them is the first thing to do, to make them think, for example about the time they will be able to free themselves to practice music, video, creative arts, or sport..... « On board Saga a lot of water sports have been practised in the family: apnea and snorkeling in the passes, a lot of wingfoil, a little surfing, skimboard etc.... and in the cross or during the dead times, a lot of cooking, video editing, crochet, drawing, reading, board games and many films » says Loïc. Take them to a Seminar Blue Water Sailing, training and valuing them to find their place on board is indispensable. Nurse, mechanic, cook, the choice is wide!
« They'll never want to leave their friends. »
Clearly, they are at an age where any change in their daily lives is not exactly welcome. They are likely to strongly disagree when we present the project to them. If they can easily imagine what they will lose, what they will gain will be less obvious to them. First of all, there are many arguments to reassure them. The first, and not least, is that it is now much easier to keep the bond with friends. Social networks, internet, smartphone, and for some time now Starlink will be able to choose (or not) to stay connected permanently. They could even document their journey on their favorite social network and become a star of influence with their dream life under the tropics. The more reasonable version of simply keeping in touch with your group via your email. In short, it is far the time when crossing the Atlantic cut you off for two to three weeks.
Conversely, Laurent thinks that » You may also be surprised at their ability to disconnect. We did not have an internet connection on board, and for 5 months the GSM were even cut off. Detoxification was done quite naturally. From deep immersion in the Cape Verdean valleys in Tobago Cays, through the deckchair, everyone on board had forgotten the smartphone. The few wifi points found here and there were enough to keep in touch with the earth. Many films read on hard disk, reading, drawings, a constant keeping of the travel diary made daily. I think I'll even dread going on board with teenagers and Starlinks! »
« They're gonna be late from a school point of view. »
As parents, we could be a little cooled by the school issue. Will we feel able to accompany them for these years of study outside the school system? Thales' theorem is still far behind us, frankly. Here again, it is interesting to hear the return of experience of those who made it, « our son had already completed a sixth year in college, he had acquired the necessary autonomy to follow his CNED courses alone » tells us Benedict. On the way back to shore, they have a great level of English in particular at the oral, and are very autonomous in the sense that they know how to work on their own and do it not to please adults but to advance. « For our part, we decided not to choose the CNED. They left with very well-made books corresponding to their school year in all subjects, and they advanced alone or with our help » Oh, well, Laurent's up. In both cases, there is no problem with taking the courses on return. And then, even if you had to repeat a year to catch up, isn't the game still worth the candle? Everything they have learned will not necessarily be validated by a good newsletter, but the value is certainly just as important. They will have learned to know each other, taken confidence in them, will be proud to have ensured this year so different.
« They're going to lose pace, return will be a disaster »
In the end, they may be at risk, on the contrary, of having difficulty returning. It's also something that can hold us back. Will they know how to get back into the system? Aren't they going to be completely out of step with their friends when they get back? Laurent reassures us « a one-year break, it's a huge opening to the world, to Nature, to the environment, but be careful, a year is a spark ». The big challenge is not to waste the acquis of the journey (slowing the pace, opening up to others, porosity with the natural environment) by diving too quickly into the « metro/boulot/dodo ». It is very likely that when you return, no one, or nothing, changed much, while your teenagers and you will certainly be different in your apprehension of the world. This is true for children who can perceive a significant maturity differential with their friends, it is also true for parents elsewhere. In fact, it's something to be prepared early enough. How will you anticipate this? What are your plans for next? Discussing this with your teenagers on board, several months before your actual return will certainly generate exciting and inflamed debates. You will then appreciate that they share with you their reflection on the future over shifts from night to night, more conducive to discussion and confidence than driving between college and home.
Moreover, recognize that it would be nice to be able to count on them on board, on their energy, to take their shifts, participate in the maneuvers and cook at the cottage. Sharing this adventure with them, having the assurance that they will keep memories of it for the whole life, matters.
So ready to go ?
Registration Seminar Blue Water Sailing Paris, on 1 and 2 February 2025