At the Roan Star Sailing Outlet, we have been avidly following the progress of Mike Perham in his attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world. He has been blogging and tweeting of his experiences and even uploading videos to YouTube from onboard his boat, TotallyMoney.
Yesterday, on August 27th 2009, Mike broke the world record when he crossed the finish line between Lizard Point and Ushant in France at 0947 BST, aged 17 years and 164 days. He beats American teenager Zac Sunderland's previous record by 2 months.
Sailing solo around the world is a truly fantastic achievement for any sailor, at any age! To create a new World Record is incredible. Congratulations Mike! You are a real British Sailing Hero.
Mike's new record is not to be confused with Jesse Martin's record for sailing solo and non-stop.The youngest person to circumnavigate the globe, sailing solo, non-stop and unsupported is still Jesse Martin, of Australia. He sailed in Lionheart from Melbourne, Australia, on 8 December 1998 aged 18 years 104 days and returned on October 31 1999, taking 327 days 12hrs 52 mins. This record for the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unsupported still stands in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Mike Perham arrives back on mainland Britain tomorrow morning. Get down to Gunwharf Quay in Portsmouth on Saturday at 1100 to see Mike dock his boat and take part in the celebrations!
