En omdat we nou eenmaal niet géén aandacht kunnen besteden aan iemand die het al gedaan heeft (en dus m.i. iets meer heeft gepresteerd dan iemand die het van plan is):
Zijn weblog
On 18th November 2008, 16-year-old Mike Perham set out to become the youngest person to sail around the world single-handed in his yacht, TotallyMoney.com.
The story so far
Mike has battled on as TotallyMoney.com has been knocked over, battered and damaged.
Repeated autopilot failures put Mike’s record attempt at risk, forcing him to stop for repairs in Portugal, Gran Canaria and Cape Town. After finally overcoming those problems, Mike crossed the Southern Indian Ocean in March, celebrating his 17th birthday enroute, but was forced to stop again in Tasmania and then Aukland after serious rudder problems emerged.
Horrendous weather in the Southern Ocean saw Mike surfing down 50 foot waves in 50 knot winds at speeds up to 28 knots. TotallyMoney.com was knocked down and damaged forcing Mike to make emergency repairs up the mast and pushing him much farther North than he originally intended.
Opponents of the attempt have questioned whether anyone with so little experience, let alone a minor, should be allowed to make such an attempt. Much less, thanks to the delays, at a time of year when the weather is so inhospitable, but Mike has pushed on and is set to prove his critics wrong. Barring any further complications, Mike is expected to arrive at his final destination, Gunwharf Quay, Portsmouth at the end of August 2009.
Mike has recorded the voyage in his blog and with video diaries which have become an inspiration to thousands – just a few of the many highlights are below (op zijn weblog)