Michael Perham, the ‘Schoolboy’ of the title, did a remarkable thing; at the age of just 16, he sailed 30,000 miles all by himself. Most 16 year old boys can’t be left in the familiar waters of their own home at 16 without some catastrophe happening.

But while most lads his age are still trying to work out how a washer works – and failing – and can’t get out of bed before the crack of lunchtime, Michael became one of very exclusive group of just 200 people who mastered all the technology and sailing wizardry necessary to go around the world single-handed.

He endured 15 metre waves, winds in excess of 55 knots – not that I know what a ‘knot’ equates to, but I’m guessing it’s pretty windy – and his autopilot conking out with regular monotony. He ended up dealing with it all like a seasoned sea-salt, but there were some tears and panic along the way, and understandably and justifiably so. I suspect if Michael had been cockily over confident, things might not have had such a happy ending. Read more & comment »