The story of this young boy cum man made me feel hopeful for the future of the world, especially the UK's future!  America was settled by men and women of this caliber.  It proves that the spirit of discovery and adventure is not dead in the uber-liberal England of today.  Sailing the Atlantic in winter is not an easy voyage for anyone, but for a 14 year old boy, it's quite astounding!

"Michael started sailing at 7 and completed Royal Yachting Association courses in dinghy sailing and windsurfing. He had already clocked up several thousand miles at sea by the time he set off on this voyage.

On Christmas Day, he wrote on his weblog: “At 4 o’clock in the afternoon we put the clocks back 4 hours to be on Antigua time and that means we’ve probably had the longest Christmas Day in the world.”

On Boxing Day he wrote: “Now we’re really surfing along with the NE winds behind us, this is what we would like to do all the time. "

Michael, I offer you my most sincere congratulations.  You give me hope for the future of the world, and I expect to hear much of Michael Perham's successes and conquests in the coming years.  You are of the hearty stock that we Americans can thank for America's success in the world.