17 year-old British sailor Mike Perham returned to Portsmouth today to a heroes welcome from his parents Peter and Heather Perham, sister Fiona, and thousands of friends and well-wishers, after becoming the youngest person to sail single-handed around the world.
His 50ft yacht Totallymoney.com had crossed the traditional Lizard/Ushant line marking the start and finish point of his 30,000 mile record-setting solo sailing circumnavigation at 09: 47.30BST last Thursday morning - two months inside the previous age record set by American teenager Zac Sutherland. Portsmouth however, marks the start and finish point of this 9 month odyssey, for Mark Perham set out from Gunwharf Quay on 15th November 2008.
Aged 17 years, 164 days old when he set the record, the teenager from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire was escorted up the Solent today by the Royal Navy guard ship HMS Puncher, and a flotilla of boats.
Mike said “The Needles was a great sight and one I had been looking forward to for a very long time. It is great to be home again and see so many people here to welcome me back. I feel very honoured.”
Mike’s Mum, Heather said: “Seeing Mike after so many months is a really great end to an amazing adventure.”
Mike's Dad Peter added, ‘Coming back to Portsmouth marks the final leg of this voyage. Mike has proved himself to be a very capable sailor.'
Paul Kenny, Director of Guinness World Records was on hand to present Mike Perham with his official Guinness World Record certificate as the youngest person to sail around the world singlehanded. This will not be the first time that Mike Perham has been credited by Guinness World Records. Back in January 2007, he became the youngest person to sail solo across the Atlantic at the age of 14.
Paul Kenny, said: “This is another incredible achievement, and it marks Mike as the consummate record-breaker - someone who’s continually prepared to set themselves new and more challenging goals. Even the most experienced of sailors would be tested by the mental and physical stamina required to achieve a record of this magnitude. The fact that Mike achieved it at such a young age is a testament to his courage and unparalleled sense of adventure.”
Mike set out on his latest solo adventure, from Gunwharf Quay on 15th November 2008 and crossed the traditional Ushant/Lizard line for marking the start (and finish) of sailing circumnavigations from the Western Approaches, on the 18th November 2008 aboard his 50ft yacht TotallyMoney.com at the age of 16 years 247 days.
His 30,000-mile circumnavigation has taken him via Cascais (Portugal), Las Palmas, (Canaries) Cape Town (South Africa), Hobart (Australia), Auckland (New Zealand) and Panama. He has spent a total of 159 days at sea.
First to send his congratulations was the the former world record holder, Australian David Dicks. He said from Fremantle, today: ‘Congratulations on becoming the youngest person to sail around the world solo!
Robin Lee Graham was 21yrs old
THEN
David Dicks (myself) at 18yrs 41days old
Jessie Martin came close to beating the record at 18yrs 66days old
THEN
Zac Sunderland at 17yrs 230days old
NOW
Mike Perham at 17yrs 164days old
WELL DONE!!!!
.... I guess now we look out for Jessica Watson from Queensland, Australia who could quite easily complete her voyage by her 17th birthday. Good luck and fair winds to Jessica.'
Kind regards David Dicks OAM CitWA
Fellow record breaking solo sailing circumnavigator, Dee Caffari sent her congratulations: 'What Mike has achieved is fantastic. I am sure he will have learnt and developed a great deal during the months he has been away. The Mike that returns will be very different to the Mike that left all those months ago. He has had to make some very difficult decisions along the way and some of these have been very grown up ones that would have been difficult to make. For example, finding himself in the Southern Ocean so late in the year means that the weather and risks get worse on a daily basis. The decision to go through the Panama Canal was very prudent. I am sure he had a desire to round Cape Horn but that would have been foolhardy'
When asked about what she thinks about him doing it so young, Dee answered:
'Development is about learning and experience and this does not necessarily have to take place in an academic environment. His experiences and life skills developed over these past few months will have helped shaped Mike's character. He will have learnt a great deal that he can draw from in the future.”
Round the world yachtsman Tony Bullimore was on the dockside to welcome Mike home. Adding his congratulations, he said: “I am full of admiration for Mike and what he has achieved. He is a great young guy and could go far in yachting.”
The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope KCB OBE ADC passed a message to Mike Perham
“The Royal Navy offers its sincere congratulations to Michael Perham on his record breaking single-handed sailing circumnavigation. This is a remarkable and inspirational achievement in one so young, another impressive event in the rich Maritime history of this island nation and of the Perham family”.
“Michael’s family have strong maritime connections, with his father having been a merchant naval officer, his grandfather having served with the Royal Navy during World War 2, and his great grandfather as a Royal Marine in the Crimean war.”
“Michael sets a fine example showing remarkable character, grit and self discipline in completing this historic record-breaking voyage and the Royal Navy is delighted to participate in welcoming him back home to the UK as an honoured and much respected fellow seafarer.”
Fremantle, Western Australia
To read this daily insight on the last leg of Mike's remarkable voyage, visit www.totallymoney.com/sailmike