The Farmont Summer School
At the heart of the Farmont Foundation’s Summer Academy are time and space for meaningful exchange. Each year, young people aged 18 to 25 from across Europe come together for a ten-day sailing journey — a shared experience at sea where proximity, responsibility, and dialogue shape learning in a very direct way.
Life on board the foundation’s sailing boat is intense, collaborative, and deeply rewarding. Participants engage in discussions on social and European issues, challenge their own perspectives, and explore what it means to take responsibility — for themselves, for one another, and for the communities they are part of. Living in close quarters demands cooperation, empathy, and openness, while offering the opportunity to see the world — and oneself — from new angles.
The Farmont Foundation covers all programme costs, including meals, accommodation, and travel. Each sailing journey brings together five young participants, supported by an experienced crew. Together, they explore the Turkish coast and nearby Greek islands, gain hands-on sailing experience, and share the rhythm of life at sea — from setting sails and navigating to cooking, listening, reflecting, and debating on deck.
Life on board becomes a unique learning environment shaped by movement, conversation, and shared responsibility. On the yacht, three generations come together — creating a space where experiences are exchanged, perspectives are questioned, and ideas of continuity, change, and responsibility naturally emerge. From which generations do we learn? Which different challenges have shaped them? And how have historical events, crises, and opportunities influenced their understanding of Europe and the world?
In this spirit, the theme of the 2026 Summer Academy is “Our Generation”. It is a direct question to those aged 18 to 25 today: Who are we — and how will we be remembered? What challenges define us? Which privileges do we take for granted, and which responsibilities can we no longer ignore? Can a shared generational identity exist across borders, languages, and lived realities? What connects young people growing up in different parts of Europe, facing different social, political, and economic conditions?
In 2026, the Farmont Foundation will offer two sailing journeys, each with five participants:
📍 September 18 – September 27, 2026
📍 October 2 – October 11, 2026
All information on how to apply can be found under the “Application” section on our website. There you will also find the application form and further details available for download.
Voices from our participants:
Time Table
Because the course of our trip is dependent on local weather conditions, this is only an example itinerary.
Arrival in Antalya, Turkey. We will meet you at the airport and drive you to the marina where our yacht, Marleen, is harboured. After you complete the safety briefing on board, we will end the day with dinner and an icebreaker session.
Accompanied by a crew member and the other participants, you will explore the historic district of Antalya. When you return to the boat, we will kick off our discussion panel with an introductory session and an activity to get to know each other better.
After breakfast, we will set sail for the first leg of our journey, travelling 20 miles to the next harbour. Along the way, you are invited to join our crew, learn your first sailor’s knots, and help steer the boat. Once we arrive at our destination, we will anchor at a quiet location for our first guided panel discussion.
After we have gathered the necessary provisions from the mainland, we will attend the captain’s briefing, during which he will inform us about the day’s route. We will then make an early start for our next destination. At the next harbour, we will continue our panel discussion and end the day with a visit to a local restaurant.
Our fifth day will be spent mostly ashore. We will explore regional differences and hold an extended panel discussion over a cup of Turkish coffee. Until we meet again for dinner, everyone can individually decide how to spend the rest of the day.
We start the next morning early and set sail at approximately 7 a.m. After six hours at sea, we will anchor in a secluded bay, where we will remain for the rest of the day. With the help of our dinghy, we can reach the mainland if necessary. After our daily discussion panel, we will check the water levels on board, organise our provisions, and maintain a rotating anchor watch.
On day seven, we will hold our discussion in the middle of the sea, with the Turkish mainland on one side and the Greek islands on the other. Artificial borders have led to numerous conflicts in this area, and the EU border that we will cross has become a fortress wall to many. In such a socially and politically charged location, we will discuss the future of the European idea.
After many days at sea and the constant motion of the waves, you may need a break. That is why, on day eight, we will stay ashore for an additional day to discuss in greater depth the questions and topics that have emerged over the first seven days. At this point in our journey, we can gaze across the sea from Greece towards Turkey.
Upon arriving at our final destination in Turkey, we will clean the boat, fold the sails, and conclude our sailing journey with a traditional Turkish meal and a final guided discussion.
After spending nine unforgettable nights on board, our journey draws to a close. Filled with lasting impressions, new connections, and intellectually stimulating experiences, we disembark and prepare for our journey home.
Our Boat and Crew
Our sailing boat, Marleen, is moored near Antalya, Turkey, where she was originally built. Marleen is an impressive two-masted sailing yacht, equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable journey at sea. There are two comfortable cabins for participants, located below deck, with two and four bunks respectively, as well as a separate sleeping area for the crew. Each cabin is equipped with a private bathroom, including a shower and toilet. The common area, which separates the crew quarters from the guest cabins, features a large corner seating area and a fully equipped kitchen. On deck, there is ample space to sit, relax, and lie under the summer sun.
On board, the vessel is commanded by our experienced captain and skipper, Andreas Wolke and Angelika Reinhold. They are responsible for all aspects of operating the boat and ensuring a safe journey throughout the trip. The panel discussions and accompanying programme that form the foundation of the Summer Academy are facilitated by Europe Programme Director Milena Wichert. As a theatre director as well as a professional coach and mediator, she combines creativity with personal development, shaping the group sessions into a dynamic format that encourages reflection and shifts in perspective.
During our journey, the boat serves not only as our means of transportation but also as our shared home. Our guiding principles are community and solidarity. These values are continuously tested and re-examined throughout the trip. Due to the limited space on board, personal privacy is naturally restricted. For this reason, all participants are expected to treat one another with respect and to make a genuine effort to be considerate of individual needs and boundaries throughout the ten-day journey.
Call for Applications
Applications are open to people in full-time education (academic or vocational), as well as young professionals whose main place of residence is in Europe. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 25.