People and Personalities

Michael, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, left the UK from Portsmouth in November 2008 to set off on an epic 24,000 mile voyage.

The teenager is hoping to beat the previous record, held by 18-year-old Australian Jesse Martin, by completing his crossing at the end of May.

The young sailor's record attempt was recently delayed to repair damages to his boat.  He was forced to stop in Cape Town, South Africa in February for a month to make repairs to the boat's rudder and install a new auto-pilot system.

He set off again this month and is currently travelling across the Southern Ocean towards Cape Leeuwin, Australia.

Michael's parents, Heather, 51, and Peter, 49, and 18-year-old sister Fiona all support him.  Mr Perham, a chartered quantity surveyor and experienced sailor, introduced his son to sailing at the age of seven.

"As a parent there is always anxiety, even he has anxiety" Michael's father Peter told the BBC.  "Whether he is 16, 26 or 36, as a parent you are always concerned for your children."

"It will be an amazing achievement. I take my hat off to him completely. I couldn't have done what he is doing at his age.

"He's just such an inspiration for other young people - for anyone really - we're just amazed we've got to this point" said Peter.

Michael is already a record breaker after becoming the youngest person to sail
solo across the Atlantic at 14 years of age in January 2007.

His adventure does not get him out of school work either!

He is taking assignments with him as part of his BTEC National Diploma in Sport (Performance and Excellence) at Oaklands College in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Money raised from the epic voyage will be donated to Save the Children and the Tall Ships Youth Trust.