Record bid sailor crosses equator

A 16-year-old sailor making a bid to become the youngest person to sail solo around the globe has reached the first milestone in his journey.

Mike Perham, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, was due to cross the equator overnight.

He said on his blog: "I'm just itching to get across the line, crack open a bottle of champagne and celebrate achieving our first major goal."

Mike set off in November from Portsmouth on his Open 50 Racing Yacht.

Huge milestone

He already has one record to his name, after becoming the youngest person to cross the Atlantic when he was just 14.

His father, Peter Perham said: "Crossing the equator takes Mike from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere.

"Physically and mentally this is a huge milestone for Mike as it marks his crossing to the other side of the globe."

The world crossing is scheduled to take four-and-a-half months and will cover 24,000 miles.

Mike is hoping to raise £24,000, £1 for each mile travelled, for the charities Save the Children and the Tall Ships Youth Trust, which gives deprived children in cities a chance to experience sailing.

He is aiming to beat Australian Jesse Martin's record as the youngest non-stop circumnavigator.

Jesse was 18 when he arrived home in Melbourne on 31 October 1999.

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