ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A British teenager became the youngest person to sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, reaching the Caribbean island of Antigua after a six-week voyage.
Mike Perham, 14, raised his fist triumphantly to a crowd of Antiguan officials and supporters as he docked outside St. John’s on the southeastern side of the island.
Perham, who was trailed by his father in another boat, set sail Nov. 18 from Gibraltar and made brief stops to replace satellite phones in the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. They were originally expected to complete the 3,500-mile (5600-kilometer) trip just before Jan. 1.
Perham said he was lonely at times but not afraid as he made the crossing in the Cheeky Monkey, his 28-foot sailboat. He helped pass the time by studying and chatting on a satellite phone.
“It has been a fantastic journey. It has been a great experience,” he said. “I truly enjoyed it.”
Perham’s father, Peter, praised his son’s courage and tenacity and said he hoped the voyage would inspire others to attempt similar feats.
“At home in England you can’t even climb a tree without a safety certificate, so I hope it will ignite a little spark in some families,” he told reporters. “When a child puts their mind to really want to do something they should be thoroughly supported.”
Perham, of Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, broke the record held by fellow Briton Sebastian Clover, who was 15 when he sailed solo from the Canary Islands to Antigua in 2003.
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