Kids today, all they want to do is sail around the world -- alone

Zac Sunderland, 17, is the youngest person to have sailed around the world alone, and the first person to have accomplished that feat before turning 18. Zac finished his 13-month odyssey in mid-July and has since become a minor celebrity.

In about a week, the personable Thousand Oaks adventurer will hold only the latter distinction, however, because England's Mike Perham, who is a few months younger than his Yankee rival, is closing in on his globe-girdling end point at Gunwharf Quays. Mike's scheduled arrival date is Aug. 29.

"I've been on the phone a lot more in the last few days, doing quite a few interviews and live radio link-ups, which has been good fun as always," the Britisher said on his blog. "Earlier I was on the phone to one of my best mates and it was really great to have a good catch up and talk about loads of different stuff. It's a little weird to think I'm only eight days away now when I've been away for so long and haven't seen my friends for ages. I'm dead excited to catch up with them though. I’ve lots of stories to tell!"

How long Mike will hold the distinction as the youngest to solo-circumnavigate the planet in a sailboat, however, remains to be seen.

Australia's Jessica Watson, 16, is planning a September departure for a nonstop journey aboard a 34-foot yacht that she hopes to complete within eight months. Abby Sunderland, who will turn 16 in October, is hoping for a November departure for a nonstop trip aboard a 40-foot yacht. She plans to complete her trip in about six months.

If both girls are successful within their time frames, Abby would become the youngest. 

However, Dutch sailor Laura Dekker reportedly is still planning to depart Sept. 1 on what she hopes will be a more leisurely two-year adventure, but she's running into opposition from civil authorities, who refuse to give her permission to skip school.

That's understandable because Dekker, who says she's going anyway and has the support of her parents, is only 13!

-- Pete Thomas

Photos, from top: Teenage sailor Mike Perham; Pelham's vessel. Credit: Totallymoney.com

Comments

[robert]

"Could the funds raised for these trips be put to a use that benefits more than one individual? ... sailing aoround the world alone at a cost of x thousand dollars may come across as a touch selfish. I was an avid sailor some years ago and was paid to deliver yachts, I volunteered to teach handicapped kids and dis-advantaged kids blah blah blah"

what's your point? that we shouldn't raise money for personal projects?

could the funds used to buy $80,000 cars for doctors be put to a use that benefits more than one individual? sure i guess it could if the person with the money chose to do so - but explain to me again how it's your right to tell people how to spend their time or money??

[Carmen Del Toro]

Let them sail, it's so typical to try to appoint being outside of what mediocre lives modern cities have now days as a search for fame, how about just to do it. Those who think that fame is what these kids are after rolling in 20 foot waves obviously have never had a nerve of exploration in their heads and not to mention never been sailing.

I think that what these kids demonstrate is that with todays technological advances and a obviously over saturated media shallow world, its way cooler to go out and sail, and they can because of all the variables... then again, I am sitting at home unemployed reading about this thinking: "Yeah these ones are absolutely crazy and I love that of it".

We all benefit from greatness.

[Joy]

re: Marc

Not sure about the other teens, but Mike Perham's blog says he is "hoping to raise £24,000 (£1 for each mile travelled) for charities with his trip through fundraising. The money will be donated to two charities close to Mike´s heart: Save the Children, and the Tall Ships Youth Trust, which gives deprived children in cities a chance to experience sailing. "

I think that's a great way to go on an adventure and build character (worthwhile goals) and have something good come out of the fame!

[kgurl]

Just wait there'll be a 9 or 10 year old setting sail alone one of these days. For whatever reason, people tend to crave fame and this is yet one more way to do it, I suppose.

[maulana]

I need information

[whatever]

I think it's really interesting that American kids are held in artificial childhood well into what used to be full adulthood. Kids this age are routinely denied sex-ed, have no voting rights, can't even use rental cars.

But if they are sponsored to do something potentially life-threatening that's basically pointless but promises lots of media attention, then it's all good & they're adults. Fame. Meh.

I agree that the Tania Aebi's with their old boats & minimal media were more impressive.

[Cristina Takacs-Vesbach]

These kids are definitely impressive, but my hero remains Tania Aebi whose modest boat, and lack of preparation and equipment still inspire me.

[Marc]

While it is great to see these young men and women complete these epic adventures, one must wonder, who actually benefits? Could the funds raised for these trips be put to a use that benefits more than one individual? If Bob Geldoff or Bono were to meet these adventurers and asked them, how have you helped those worse of than you, a response of sailing aoround the world alone at a cost of x thousand dollars may come across as a touch selfish. I was an avid sailor some years ago and was paid to deliver yachts, I volunteered to teach handicapped kids and dis-advantaged kids how to sail in boats repaired every weekend. The experience of teaching was far more rewarding than being paid to deliver someones yacht across an ocean. I hope these young adventurers will use the experience and attention for the greater good, what better reward?