People and Personalities

Hertfordshire’s Michael Pelham is on track to break a world record this week – even though a hurricane over the Atlantic in recent days has made sailing difficult.

The teenager from Potters Bar is due to arrive at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth at approximately 11.00am this Saturday [29 August 2009] and in doing so will become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

Michael turned 17 in March, somewhere in the Southern Ocean, but was just 16-years-old when he set out on the epic 24,000 mile voyage from Portsmouth in November 2008.

He is now about 200 miles from Land’s End and is still on course to finish on Saturday, even though, as his father Peter told BBC Three Counties Radio, Hurricane Bill has made its presence felt!

“He’s had Hurricane Bill to rub shoulders with overnight” Peter revealed.

“Last night he said that the waves were about 40 feet and the wind strength was about 40-45 knots. But the wind is now abating which is really good, and he’s now looking forward to a sprint to the line as it were.”

For his proud parents waiting at home, it’s an anxious time.

“I’m not keen on the idea of 40 foot waves” said Peter, an experienced sailor who introduced his son to sailing at the age of seven, “but I just have to sit here on the edge of my seat and hope I don’t fall off!”

But at the same time, Peter does his best to make sure that Michael’s mum Heather doesn’t worry.

“His mum does get to hear about some of these things” he explained.

“I might be on the phone to Mike and suddenly I get this stare from Heather and I can tell it’s like “What’s wrong now!” I have to just give her a thumbs up and say ‘it’s fine – there’s nothing to worry about!’”

Nevertheless, they are both extremely proud of their son.

“Oh yes” said Peter, “he’s done amazingly well, and if you go on his Website and read what other people say about him on his blog, as a parent I’m just bowled over.”

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. He’s now studying for a BTEC National Diploma in Sport (Performance and Excellence) at Oaklands College in St Albans and has been completing assignments for the course while on his epic journey!

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