Fri, Jan 05, 2007 - Page 22 News List

Teenager completes Atlantic crossing

PRIDE OF HERTFORDSHIRE Arriving in Antigua on Wednesday, a 14-year-old became the youngest person to complete a single-handed crossing of the Atlantic

THE GUARDIAN , LONDON

But the head admitted that the boy would have learned important non-academic lessons from the 5,630km trip.

"What he has achieved is an education in itself and when people achieve success in something like this it translates into success in other areas. Michael will have learnt a lot about himself and learnt resilience. It has been a great opportunity for him to develop," Phillips said.

Michael, who has sailed since he was seven, came up with the idea of the voyage after watching footage of the previous youngest solo transatlantic sailor -- Sebastian Clover, 15, from the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England.

He told his father: "It would be great if I could do that, Dad."

He has ambitions of sailing around the world -- but, for the moment, will have to once more concentrate on his school work.

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