Artk2002, I would hope, as does the OP in one of her posts, that anyone doing volunteer or charity work would enjoy the experience. The question for me is whether the "charitable" intent and likely result/benefit to the charitable objectives drive the dispersal of donated funds, or is that secondary to a solely personal interest of an individual seeking contributions.
So, re volunteer sailing activities, while anyone may volunteer primarily for the enjoyment of sailing, if their participation enables disadvantaged children to enjoy the shared experience - wonderful.
But, if an individual asked others for contributions to purchase a sailboat, without doing so as or through a formally organized charity, and said they would periodically take disadvantaged children out for sailing - that person might mean well, but would be asking for others to fund a personal investment which would be of incidental, but not primarily for charitable use/benefit.
The friend of OP is asking others to fund an expensive trip, and while good may come of that trip, it seems the personal desire of the person to undertake this travel, though unable to fund it fully themself, is a factor, and the likely charitable benefits, lacking any detailed plan or accountability, remain questionable.