17-year old Brit, Mike Perham, crossing the finish line of his assisted sail around the world, becoming the youngest to do so. Image courtesy of AP (click to enlarge)
It seems to have ruled my world and almost every thought for the last year!” Image courtesy of PPLmedia.com (click to enlarge)
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Mike Perham update: Crossing the finish line
Posted: Aug 28, 2009 04:26 pm EST
(TheOceans.net) 17-year old Mike Perham crossed the start/finish line which runs between Lizard Point and Ushant in France at 09:47:30 on 27 August reported his website.
Mike set sail in November 2008 and become the youngest person to sail around the world assisted.
Crossing the finish line
Mike described crossing the finish line, “So as I closed on the finishing line and sailed just offshore of the Lizard, staying clear of all the rocks and as I crossed it HMS MERSY blew all her horns. I lit two flares, as what's become tradition these days with single-handed sailors.”
“I was also chuffed to bits to see a Royal Navy chopper from Culdrose had also been sent out to join me.”
Gunwharf Quay
Mike left from Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays on Saturday 15th November 2008 as a 16-year old teenager.
He is now heading through the English Channel towards Gunwharf Quays. His father said Mike certainly doesn't feel that his voyage is over until he ties up at Gunwharf where he is expected tomorrow, 29 August.
Mr. Perham Sr. and two other men joined Mike on his boat to Portsmouth.
The last days
Mike’s last days were not plain sailing. He had to battle against Hurricane Bill, 45-knot winds and some really nasty seas he reported.
He also had some serious technical problems. Read the lengthy explanation on his blog on 24 August.
Feeling
Mikes said although he is excited to finish he thought about the whole trip before crossing the finish line.
“I've been thinking a lot today about the whole trip and now that it's coming to a real end it does feel a bit weird. I feel like I just want it to keep going so I can have many more adventures.”
“At the same time I do feel like I've now done my time, as it were and I’m very much looking forward to being back on dry land in a few days and being able to think about other things than just the trip. It seems to have ruled my world and almost every thought for the last year!”
Both British Mike Perham and American Zac Sunderland were 16 when they started their voyages. Zac turned 17 on November 29, 2008 and Mike turned 17 on March 16, 2009.
Both attempted to sail around the world. Several stops were made. Mike stayed further out to sea, whereas Zac stayed closer to shore. Zac Sunderland departed on his yacht from Marina del Rey, California on 14 June 2008 and arrived back 13 months later on July 16, 2009. Mike Perham left from Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays on Saturday 15th November 2008.
According to his website, “Mike started sailing at the age of seven and has never looked back. He has completed RYA courses in dinghy sailing and windsurfing. At the age of fourteen Mike became the youngest person to ever sail across the Atlantic single-handed. He still holds that world record today.”
Mike has two iPods full of his favourite music on the yacht, and a bunch of DVDs and books to make sure he doesn’t get too bored. Furthermore his school has even organised some coursework to take with him “in case I get desperate”, he said.
Mike said his dad is his biggest hero. “He is so supportive of everything I want to do and achieve, and he really puts me in the mindset where I can go out and live my dreams.”
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