This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/6226775.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Boy sails into the record books | Boy sails into the record books |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A British 14-year-old has arrived in Antigua to become the youngest person to sail the Atlantic single-handed. | A British 14-year-old has arrived in Antigua to become the youngest person to sail the Atlantic single-handed. |
| Michael Perham, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, ended his 3,500-mile voyage when he sailed into Nelson's Dockyard at 1400 GMT. | |
| Michael takes the record from Isle of Wight teenager Seb Clover who was 15 when he made the crossing. | |
| The teenager, who has spent six weeks at sea, was escorted into dock by a flotilla of boats. | |
| 'Huge accomplishment' | |
| On reaching dry land, where he was met by a steel band, Michael said he had been overwhelmed by the reception he had received. | |
| "It feels absolutely fantastic being back on dry land, absolutely brilliant," he told BBC News. | |
| Michael's yacht, Cheeky Monkey, was shadowed by his father, Peter, a quantity surveyor, who was also in radio contact. | Michael's yacht, Cheeky Monkey, was shadowed by his father, Peter, a quantity surveyor, who was also in radio contact. |
| Mother Heather Perham said her son had been inspired by Seb Clover's record in 2003. | Mother Heather Perham said her son had been inspired by Seb Clover's record in 2003. |
| "He's a very adventurous lad. When he heard about the trip that Seb and his father had done... it challenged him." | "He's a very adventurous lad. When he heard about the trip that Seb and his father had done... it challenged him." |
| Speaking to her son via video-link for the first time since reaching shore, Mrs Perham congratulated him on his achievement. | |
| "Congratulations Michael from everyone here in the family," she said. | |
| "We are very proud of you. It's a huge accomplishment for yourself and to set an example for other young people to have adventures and live life to the full." | |
| 'Remarkable feat' | |
| Stuart Phillips, head teacher at Chancellors Secondary School, which Michael attends, said: "It is an amazing achievement and goes to show what young people can achieve. | Stuart Phillips, head teacher at Chancellors Secondary School, which Michael attends, said: "It is an amazing achievement and goes to show what young people can achieve. |
| "We have been keeping students and parents informed of his progress. His friends have been logging onto his website." | "We have been keeping students and parents informed of his progress. His friends have been logging onto his website." |
| Mr Phillips said Michael was in his first year of GCSEs and had been given a revision programme to support him. | Mr Phillips said Michael was in his first year of GCSEs and had been given a revision programme to support him. |
| He said: "What he has achieved is an education in itself and when people achieve success in something like this it translates into success in other areas. | He said: "What he has achieved is an education in itself and when people achieve success in something like this it translates into success in other areas. |
| "The school is very proud of him and when he returns we will decide how to mark this remarkable feat." | "The school is very proud of him and when he returns we will decide how to mark this remarkable feat." |