TAS: English teenager sailing around the world docks in Hobart

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2009
TAS: English teenager sailing around the world docks in Hobart

By Michelle Draper

MELBOURNE, April 4 AAP - He's only 17 but a quest to break the world record for the
youngest person to sail solo around the globe has pushed Mike Perham to navigate some
of the most treacherous seas in pursuit of his dream.

The English teenager, who docked in Hobart in Tasmania on Saturday, has had his share
of hairy moments since he set out from Portsmouth in the United Kingdom last November.

One such moment came just a week ago near Cape Leeuwin, off the coast of Western Australia.

"I was knocked down by a freak wave, which picked up the boat and tipped her on her
side, which was quite a scary moment," Perham told AAP on Saturday.

"Those two seconds were the scariest of the whole trip by far."

Luckily, the boat quickly righted itself and Mr Perham sailed on.

There have also been frustrating setbacks.

Perham hoped to complete the trip in five months but spent a month in the Canary Islands
sourcing a new auto-pilot for the Open 50 yacht, Totallymoney.com, and another month in
Cape Town, South Africa fixing the rudder.

After already spending five months on the seas, he now expects to reach home in nine-and-a-half
weeks.

"I've poured by heart and soul into this project. I've genuinely given it my all, and
to succeed and finish will put the biggest smile on my face," he said.

Perham sailed into Hobart on the yacht about 1.30am (AEDT) on Saturday where he met his father.

The pair worked on repairs to the yacht on Saturday afternoon.

Perham left Portsmouth on November 15 last year and hopes to raise about $A50,000 for
two charities, Save the Children and Tall Ships Youth Trust, which gives children in deprived
cities a chance to experience sailing.

The teenager became the youngest person to sail across the Atlantic single-handedly
in 2006-2007 at the age of 14.

His latest adventure is expected to cover over 40,000km and must be completed entirely
under sail by wind and muscle power to meet the requirements to set the world record.

After he returns to the UK, Perham expects to finish his college degree in sports performance
and excellence and pursue a career in - of course - sailing.

If he succeeds in his quest, Perham will break the world record set by Jesse Martin,
who became the youngest person to sail around the world unassisted at the age of 18 on
October 31, 1999, when he returned to Melbourne after a 328-day journey.

AAP md/cdh

KEYWORD: PERHAM WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE)

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