British Teen Sails Across Ocean Alone

A British teen on Wednesday became the youngest person to sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean, reaching the Caribbean island of Antigua after a six-week voyage.

Mike Perham, 14, raised his fist triumphantly to a crowd of Antiguan officials and supporters as he docked outside St. John's on the southeastern side of the island.

Perham said he was lonely at times but not afraid as he made the crossing in the Cheeky Monkey, his 28-foot sailboat. He helped pass the time by studying and chatting on a satellite phone.

''It has been a fantastic journey. It has been a great experience,'' he said. ''I truly enjoyed it.''

Perham, who was trailed by his father in another sailboat, set sail Nov. 18 from Gibraltar and made brief stops for repairs in the Canary Islands and Cape Verde.

Perham broke the record held by Sebastian Clover, also of Britain, who was 15 when he sailed solo from the Canary Islands to Antigua in 2003.