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| Young sailor sets global record | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A 17-year-old boy has become the youngest person to sail solo around the world after entering UK waters. | |
| Mike Perham, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, has tackled 50ft waves, gale force winds and technical problems during a 30,000-mile circumnavigation. | Mike Perham, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, has tackled 50ft waves, gale force winds and technical problems during a 30,000-mile circumnavigation. |
| He left Portsmouth, Hampshire, on 15 November 2008 and celebrated his 17th birthday on the Indian Ocean in March. | He left Portsmouth, Hampshire, on 15 November 2008 and celebrated his 17th birthday on the Indian Ocean in March. |
| His record was set when he crossed the finish line between Lizard Point and Ushant in France at about 1000 BST. | |
| Falmouth Coastguards confirmed he had crossed the finish line at Lizard Point, off the Cornish coast. | |
| That means that, subject to verification, he has set a new world record as the youngest person to sail solo around the world. | |
| Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said earlier: "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." | "The fact that Mike achieved it at such a young age is a testament to his courage and unparalleled sense of adventure." |
| Tough back home | Tough back home |
| On his way towards his achievement, 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. | "It does get lonely, no doubt about it, but that's part of the challenge. |
| "I'm probably used to it now. I just always look forward. You've got to have confidence in yourself that you will make it." | "I'm probably used to it now. I just always look forward. You've got to have confidence in yourself that you will make it." |
| The family back home, father Peter, mother Heather and older sister Fiona, say they have been equally thrilled and frightened during Mike's adventure. | The family back home, father Peter, mother Heather and older sister Fiona, say they have been equally thrilled and frightened during Mike's adventure. |
| Mr Perham said: "The enormity and scale of what he has achieved is amazing. | Mr Perham said: "The enormity and scale of what he has achieved is amazing. |
| "It's been pretty tough for him and us back home too. | "It's been pretty tough for him and us back home too. |
| "You really swing with the pendulum of equipment failure. | |
| "He is the only one who can fix it and there's no manual on how to sail an open racing yacht, it's like a formula one racing car, but he's come through." | |
| Mike's arrival comes as controversy has arisen in Holland where social workers have taken legal action to try to stop 13-year-old Laura Dekker from setting off to break the same record. | Mike's arrival comes as controversy has arisen in Holland where social workers have taken legal action to try to stop 13-year-old Laura Dekker from setting off to break the same record. |
| They want to make her a ward of court to prevent her parents from being able to give her the go-ahead to undertake the challenge, which would involve missing up to two years of school. |