17-year-old British sailor Mike Perham set out from Panama last night on the final stage of his record attempt to become the youngest solo yachtsman to take on the world. Sailing the Open 50 race yacht TotallyMoney.com, Mike set out from Gunwharf Quay Portsmouth on 15 November 2008, and expects to be back within four weeks.

Earlier this month, American teenager Zac Sunderland returned to Los Angeles to claim the youngest solo circumnavigation record, but Mike is three and a half months younger and has until mid November to get his name into the record books. Mike Broughton, British weather expert, who has been advising Perham throughout his record attempt, forecasts a 29 day voyage back to Portsmouth to give Mike more than two months to spare.

Mike said: “I’m finally on the last leg and it feels just great. I only have about 5,000 miles to go, so I am hoping to be home inside four weeks. I really can’t wait, but I won’t push the boat too hard, as I would not want anything to happen that might have been preventable.”