Solo sailing record for UK teenager

Aug 27 2009

A 17-year-old boy is set to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world when he returns to UK waters following his nine-month odyssey.

Mike Perham, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, has tackled 50ft waves, gale force winds and numerous technical problems during his 30,000 mile circumnavigation.

He set off from Portsmouth, Hampshire, on November 15 last year at the age of 16 and celebrated his 17th birthday in the South Indian Ocean on March 16.

His voyage on board the Open 50 racing yacht 50ft Totallymoney.com has taken him via Portugal, the Canaries, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

His route also took him via the Panama Canal after he missed the weather window to sail around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.

He had originally set off aiming to complete the challenge non-stop but technical difficulties forced several pit stops meaning his world record will be the youngest solo circumnavigation with assistance.

In order to satisfy the requirements of the world record the solo circumnavigation has to cross the equator and every single line of longitude.

The previous youngest to complete a similar voyage was American Zac Sunderland who was two months older than Mike when he completed his voyage in July this year.

But it will not be the first world record set by Mike. In January 2007 he became the youngest person to sail solo across the Atlantic at the age of 14.

Mike said: "It's beginning to sink in what I've done and I'm feeling very proud of myself and the people who have helped me make this happen. It does get lonely, no doubt about it, but that's part of the challenge."