The countdown has begun for the return home of British yachtsman Mike Perham. Mike (17), from Hertfordshire, hopes to be back in the UK within 60 days, after spending what will be eight months at sea. If successful, Mike will be the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handed.

Mike resumed his world record bid yesterday evening (Tuesday 26 May) after waving goodbye to Auckland. He had to make a stop in New Zealand to replace his starboard rudder bearings, which were giving him cause for concern across the Tasman Sea ( read previous story here ). Mike is now headed deep into the southern ocean.

His mother, Heather Perham, commented: “He has been away far longer than we planned due to all the stops to effect repairs, so now he has only 60 days left, we are already getting excited for his homecoming”.

Today (Wednesday 27 May) Mike will be crossing the 180 degrees meridian of longitude taking him from east to west longitude. He said: “Another milestone clocked and it will be good to see the degrees decreasing till I get home.”

To follow Mike’s progress visit www.totallymoney.com/sailmike .