Dee Caffari (Photo by onEdition)
Teenage solo circumnavigator Mike Perham and Dee Caffari MBE, the first woman to sail solo around the world both ways, are recipients of this year’s Ocean Cruising Club’s prestigious Awards of Merit.
17-year-old Mike Perham from Potters Bar, returned to a heroes welcome at Portsmouth last August to seize the Guinness World Record as the youngest person to sail solo around the world.
Mike Perham said today. “I’m knocked out at winning this award, and to do so with Dee Caffari, one of my heroes, is the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to meet her at the awards dinner.”
Dee was equally complimentary about Mike’s record when he returned to Portsmouth. ‘What Mike has achieved is fantastic at his age. He will have learnt and developed a great deal during the months he has been away.’ She said, adding: ‘Development is about learning and experience and this does not necessarily have to take place in an academic environment. His experiences and life skills developed at sea will have helped shaped Mike’s character. He will have learnt a great deal which he will draw from in the future.’
Peter Whatley, Chairman of the OCC Awards committee, said today: “We want to congratulate both sailors: Dee’s double record has to be one that will stand for a very long time and serve as an inspiration for many in the future. Mike’s achievement proves that sailing around the world is not about age, but the determination to achieve one’s goal. Mike and Dee still have much left to give to the world of sailing and we will all watch their progress with pride, admiration and a great deal of interest.”
The Awards Ceremony takes place at the Royal Thames Yacht Club on March 26th, two week’s before Mike Perham sets off to Australia to commence his next challenge – The Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition. He joins a 4-man crew led by Australian adventurer Don McIntyre to recreate one of the greatest open boat voyages of all time – the famous 4,000 mile story of survival of Capt William Bligh and his crew, following the infamous mutiny on HMS Bounty.
Talisker Bounty Boat (Photo Courtesy of Bountyboat.com)
On April 28, 2010 following in the footsteps of William Bligh when cast adrift from the Bounty, Don McIntyre and the crew onboard the “Talisker Bounty Boat” will sail for Tonga to find extra food and water, then set off to sail across the top of the Fiji and the Vanuatu Island groups, before setting course for the Queensland Coast and a landing at Restoration Island following four weeks at sea on light rations. They then sail north inside the Great Barrier Reef to Thursday Island, and across to Kupang and Timor.
If successful it will be the first time that anyone has ever sailed the same course, in the same way that William Bligh did 221 years before. (1983 and 1990 attempts both used almanacs and charts for navigation, torches, modern time pieces etc, and also made unscheduled stopovers or did not follow the same route or were escorted part of the way). We’ll have no charts, no nautical almanacs, no modern watches, no torches, no toilet paper, no extra landings, all in a boat less than half the size of Bligh’s original “Bounty Boat”…. But let’s get to the finish line and then talk about it.
Talisker, the famous single malt whisky distilled on the Isle of Skye today announces its sponsorship of an epic sailing adventure which will be the first to recreate the exact journey of Captain William Bligh’s epic 4,000-mile open boat ‘Mutiny on the Bounty ’voyage. Led by Australian adventurer Don McIntyre and a crew of three, the reenactment will follow the journey across the Pacific from Tonga to Timor and aims to raise vital funds and awareness for the world’s first international research centre into Motor Neurone Disease, currently being built by the Sheffield Institute Foundation.
McIntyre returned to his roots and the roots of Talisker on the Isle of Skye to trace his Scottish ancestry, and hold a Clan reunion at the famous Talisker Distillery. His grandparents Thomas and Mary McIntyre emigrated to Australia shortly after their marriage in 1901 and this was Don’s first visit to the island and Scotland. The 54 year-old adventurer, who successfully sailed single-handed around the world in 1992 and has led a series of expeditions down to Antarctica, brought with him the 25ft replica of the Bounty Boat to give his fellow McIntyres an insight into the extraordinary fight for survival that Captain Bligh and his crew faced following the infamous mutiny on HMS Bounty led by Fletcher Christian.
McIntyre and his three-man crew will face the same deprivations as the original Bounty Boat crew, with little food, no charts or toilet paper and only the limited navigation implements that were available to Bligh. They will start the adventure on the same day, at the same time and in the same place 221 years after the original mutiny journey.
Fiona McIntyre, Talisker distillery employee, said: “As a McIntrye myself and employee at the distillery, it was a proud moment for Talisker to announce our sponsorship of this wonderful adventure and welcome Don to the Isle of Skye to meet his fellow McIntyres. It’s amazing to think that Don and the crew will sail thousands of miles in the very open boat he has brought to the island and we’ll be supporting them every step of the way.”
Don McIntrye, adventurer, said: “I am bowled over by the warm welcome I have received on the Isle of Skye. It has been like coming home, and to have met so many of my namesakes has been fantastic. I am also surprised by the number of people on the Island who have had a direct experience of Motor Nurone Disease. It is a fatal disease that we know far too little about. I hope that this voyage will raise far greater awareness and fund vital work by The Sheffield Institute Foundation to find a cure.”
Steve Wood, global marketing manager for Talisker, Diageo, said: “This is an incredibly exciting adventure for Talisker to sponsor and we are urging people to support the expedition by visiting www.taliskerbountyboat.com. Not only will we be a part of sailing history but the expedition will also raise vital funds for research into Motor Neurone Disease through the Sheffield Institute Foundation. Talisker is the only malt whisky made on the Isle of Skye and has a strong affinity with the sea.”
The Challenge:
Following in the footsteps of William Bligh when cast adrift from the Bounty, Don McIntyre and the crew onboard the “Talisker Bounty Boat” will sail for Tonga to find extra food and water, then set off to sail across the top of the Fiji and the Vanuatu Island groups, before setting course for the Queensland Coast and a landing at Restoration Island following four weeks at sea on light rations. They then sail north inside the Great Barrier Reef to Thursday Island, and across to Kupang and Timor.
If successful it will be the first time that anyone has ever sailed the same course, in the same way that William Bligh did 221 years before. (1983 and 1990 attempts both used almanacs and charts for navigation, torches, modern time pieces etc, and also made unscheduled stopovers or did not follow the same route or were escorted part of the way). We’ll have no charts, no nautical almanacs, no modern watches, no torches, no toilet paper, no extra landings, all in a boat less than half the size of Bligh’s original “Bounty Boat”…. But let’s get to the finish line and then talk about it.
The Route
Talisker Bounty Boat positions will automatically be logged onto Google Earth maps for you to follow, every two hours during the voyage. Daily Blogs, Photo’s and audio clips will tell the story.
Tuesday April 28 – 1789 Fletcher Christian Mutinies on HMS Bounty then sets sail for Pitcairn Island. Bligh and 18 men are abandoned into a long boat with just 150lb of ships biscuits, 16 two pound pieces of Pork, 6 quarts of Rum, 6 Bottles of wine and 28 gallons of water. Their overcrowded boat has just 8 inches of freeboard. They sail for Tofua one day away.
Sunday 3rd May on Tofua , one man is killed by natives. Bligh sails away headed for Fiji.
Thursday 7th May – Bligh sails through Fiji Islands chased by hostile natives in canoes so cannot stop and sails on.
Thursday 14th May – Bligh passes through the New Hebrides but decides not to stop fearing attack.
Crossing the coral sea the face constant storms and gales, bailing to stay afloat 24 hours a day, desperately short of food and water.
Thursday 28th May – First sight of New Holland and the Great Barrier reef. Next day, after 26 days at sea, they land on Restoration island half dead, but all still surviving. They eat oysters, berries, birds and fish.
Friday 12th June – Timor is sighted and on the 14th they arrive in Kupang, 48 days and 4000 miles after the Mutiny, and their ordeal becomes one of the greatest open boat voyages in maritime history.
The Bounty Boat 2010 Voyage Provisions:
The Gear
Navigation gear….
Original 18th century octant and sextant, two original 18th century pocket watches, Nautical tables, boat compass, telescope, rope knot meter, leadline, ink pens and ink, note books, log book, magnifying glass. No charts allowed, no modern watches, no nautical almanac, no compass light.
Clothing and personal kits……each crew
Sun hat, warm hat, expedition shirt, expedition long pants, tough shorts, thermal top, thermal pants, waterproof shoes, Gore-tex weather jacket and pants, sheep skin, inflatable life-jacket/ safety harness with knife torch and strobe, 406-GPS POB. No torches will be used and no ipods nor books to read.
Safety equipment….
Six man ocean life raft with AYF pack, 406-GPS EPIRB, survior O6 manual desalinator, 6 para, 6 red, 2 white, 2 smoke flares, 4 sea dyemarkers, 6 cyalume stick, heliograph, V-sheet, knife, torch and spare battery, comprehensive medical kit, 1 thermal survival bag, 1 Iridium phone, waterproof VHF handheld/ GPS, rechargeable spot light, 30 man-days emergency food.
9 ft parachute anchor and rigging, 3 portable bilge pumps, 3 buckets, 2 anchors and lines, 1 fitted bilge pump and spares.
Communication equipment….
Iridium automatic satellite tracking system link to Google Earth web map, 2 Iridium phone, VHF waterproof HH, fitted VHF. No incoming communications will be allowed thus maintaining total isolation…only outgoing info for the web page will be sent from Talisker Bounty Boat.
Electrical system……
3 X 38 watt FLEXICELL solar panels, 2 X 25 Amp Gelcell battery, require LED Nav Lights.
Food……
Talisker Bounty Boat will set off with the same weight of food and water that Bligh had when he was cast adrift from the Bounty.
Daily per person for 25 days only ( The Voyage is approx 40 days)
Breakfast: museli bar 35g, baked beans 210g, ship biscuit 90g, 1 liter water
Lunch: nuts 100g, raisins 75g
Dinner: museli bar 35g,beef 170g, ship biscuit 90g, 1 litre water
6 X 750ml bottles rum, 6 X 750ml bottles wine
Note: Hope to catch fish, gather a supply of fruit, vegetable and coconuts in Tonga, not catch and eat birds but instead use substitute on days Bligh did catch birds and supplement our 28 Gallons of water with rain water.
Don McIntyre and Mike Perham (Photo Courtesy of Bountyboat.com)
The Crew:
Don McIntyre
53 year old Don McIntyre is one of Australias most experienced sailors, having competed in the 1990 BOC Challenge Single Handed Around the World Yacht Race ,coming second in Class, the highest placing for an Australian at the time. He then embarked on numeros Antarctic sailing Expeditions, including in 1995, living in a 2.4m X 3.6m box for a year, together alone in Antarctica, with his wife Margie, chained to rocks at Cape Dennison, the site of Sir Douglass Mawson’s Hut and an area called the Home of the Blizzard. Having been awarded an Australian Geographic Society silver medal for the Spirit of Adventure in 1993, Don and Margie were Awarded the Australian Geographic Society’s highest honour in 1996…a Gold Medal as Adventurers of the Year, the youngest to ever recieve it at that time. Their award winning documentary and best selling book “Two Below Zero” are still in demand ten years on.
In 2000 McIntyre purchased a 36m 600 tonne ” ICE” ship in Finland ( renamed” Sir Hubert Wilkins”), then brought it back across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to New Zealand for a major refit, including the installation of a helipad and a Hughes 300 helicopter, before embarking on four major voyages of discovery and exploration in Antarctica over three summer seasons all thanks to major sponsorship from DICK SMITH FOODS. Three years later, a 5 man recompression chamber and sophisticated dive support gear and Nitrox compressors were installed before setting of on a 6 month treasure hunting adventure in the Phillipines….no Gold! Then followed a successful four year tarmac rally racing campaign in a Peugeot 206 Gti 180 with some impressive results….and a few “DINGS!”
An ongoing interest in aviation has provided some great fun when time allows, flying fixed-wing “three axis”, a little helicopter time, trike” weight-shift” experience, and in 2007 McIntyre became the first person to fly an ultralight gyro-copter around Australia, a world first flight….see OzGyro Website
McIntyre has been involved with skydiving, surfing, racing moto-cross and been scuba diving all his life. He formed the Short-handed Sailing Association of Australia in 1983 and went on to manage and promote the 1988 GFW Bicentenial Around Australia Yacht Race which was underwritten by McIntyre Marine Services Pty Ltd…McIntyre’s successful marine equipment importing and boat building company which was sold in 2005.
In April 2008 McIntyre launched his new 15.2m steel, 40 tonne ice strengthend expedition motor-sailer “ICE”, following a three year, 50,000 man hour build in China. This new adventure ship is capable of going anywhere, has a 5000 mile range under power, carries comprehensive dive gear and it’s own Polaris Amphib flying boat for filming and exploration…..The FUN CONTINUES!!!
Mike Perham:
17 year old Mike Perham has signed on as second in comand of the Talisker Bounty Boat! Mike now holds the record as the world’s Youngest Solo Circumnavigator, having sailed his Open 50 Totally Money around the world in 157 days, crossing the finish line on August 27th 2009. He also holds the record as the youngest solo Trans-Atlantic sailor at 14 years of age!
When Mike called into Hobart for repairs during his circumnavigation, he spent nearly five weeks living with Don & Margie McIntyre who assisted Mike with getting back on the road again…during the course of all that, Mike and Don had time to visit Jessica Watson (www.jessicawatson.com.au) who is about to set off on her bid to take Mike’s Solo record away from him!
The McIntyre’s bought the boat for Jessica and are major supporters of her Quest. When Mike heard about the Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition, his imagination began to run wild…so now he too will get close to Bligh.
Mikes profile, Blog and previous adventures are at www.challengemike.com.
Mike Perham on TotallyMoney.com (Photo Courtesy of Totallymoney.com)
17 year-old British sailor Mike Perham has become the youngest person to sail single-handed around the world. His 50ft yacht Totallymoney.com crossed the traditional Lizard/Ushant line marking the start and finish point of his 30,000 mile record-setting in bright sunshine at 09:47:30 secs (local)am this morning – two months inside the previous age record set by American teenager Zac Sutherland.
Aged 17 years, 164 days old the teenager from Potters Bar Hertfordshire, was escorted across the line by Royal Navy guard ship HMS Mersey, a helicopter from 771 Squadron at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, and a small flotilla of press boats that had been on standby overnight to record his finish.
Mike said: “I’ve made it, I’ve made my dream come true and it feels amazing. A BIG BIG thanks to my Dad, Mum, all the sponsors and every one who has helped me along the way.
I can’t believe that the Royal Navy has sent HMS Mersey and a helicopter to witness my crossing the line. I feel very honoured.”
Mike’s Dad said: “Mike is a very special son, he has done incredibly well. He has shown that with determination, you can succeed even in the most adverse circumstances. He has shown the world that he is an extraordinary young man and an inspiration to us all.”
The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, KCB OBE ADC passed a message to Mike Perham as he sailed past The Lizard passed on a congratulatory message via Lt Cdr Carl Wiseman Captain of HMS Mersey:
“The Royal Navy offers its sincere congratulations to Michael Perham on his record breaking single-handed sailing circumnavigation. This is a remarkable and inspirational achievement in one so young, another impressive event in the rich Maritime history of this island nation and of the Perham family”.
“Michael’s family have strong maritime connections, with his father having been a merchant naval officer, his grandfather having served with the Royal Navy during World War 2, and his great grandfather as a Royal Marine in the Crimean war.”
Mike Perham on TotallyMoney.com At Lizard Finish (Photo by Barry Pickthall / PPL)
“Michael sets a fine example showing remarkable character, grit and self discipline in completing this historic record-breaking voyage and the Royal Navy is delighted to participate in welcoming him back home to the UK as an honoured and much respected fellow seafarer.”
After crossing the finish line Mike was joined by his Dad, Peter to continue sailing back to for a homecoming welcome at Gunwharf Quay at 11:00 on Saturday.
Mike Perham At Lizard Finish (Photo by Barry Pickthall / PPL)
Mike Perham Self Portrait Onboard Totallymoney.com (Photo by Mike Perham / Totallymoney.com)
Mike Perham is 600 miles south-east of Newfoundland, doing 11.4 kts. He has 1,520 nautical miles to the
Ushant/Falmouth finish line.
Light winds last week delayed 17 year-old Mike Perham’s record bid to become the youngest solo circumnavigator. He now expects to reach the Lizard line marking the start and finish point of his 30,000 mile record-setting odyssey sometime on Thursday August 27, still two months inside the current record. He now plans return to Gunwharf Quay, Portsmouth to be reunited with family and friends at 11:00am on Saturday August 29. Mike, who set out from England last November, was 600 miles south-east of Newfoundland early today, his yacht Totallymoney.com speeding on at 11.4knots, after closing to within 2,000 miles of the finish early on Monday.
Mike said on BBC Radio Solent today that he was coping well with being on his own, but is really looking forward to getting home.
Yesterday about 50 dolphins and 6 pilot whales came to visit him. Mike reported: “I was standing up by the mast this afternoon checking a few things and snapping photographs when all of a sudden I heard a great splash. There was this great long line of dolphins all jumping up in the air. There must have been fifty of them. It was an amazing sight! Later, I glanced across the water and spotted six pilot whales having a good look at Totallymoney.com.
Mike Perham on His Open 50 Totallymoney.com (Photo courtesy of Totallymoney.com)
Then, while I was sitting on the beanbag, two dolphins suddenly jumped up just a metre away from Totallymoney.com’s stern. They looked really impressive, spray flying everywhere. I guess the sealife around here is used to seeing a lot of yachts! The temperature on board is getting cooler with the influence of the Labrador Current from the north. The winds have gone around to the north as well. Today I had to put my sea boots on; a strange feeling since I have not worn anything on my feet for ages.
A small low-pressure system currently over Newfoundland, should give me some great running conditions by Wednesday. Once this has passed over it looks as if I might be able to hook into one of the big bad-boy low’s trucking it’s way across the Atlantic to the north of us. I’m looking forward to some more “vroom-vroom” moments!”
Mike Perham on Totallymoney.com (Photo by Julien Girardot/DPPI)
Mike Perham, the teenager from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire who has high hopes of sailing into the record books at the end of August to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the Globe alone, has covered more than 1,000 miles during his first week and is now off the Florida coast.
He and his Open 50 yacht Totallymoney.com left Panama last Tuesday, but says he has not been able to sleep for more than two hours a day, sometimes down to one and never longer than 15 minutes at a time. This is because he has to stay alert for fear of being run down by one of the many ships that are following the same route between Panama and the East Coast of the US. At times he has reported over 20 ships on his radar. On Sunday Mike said in his blog, ‘The main thing is to be safe. The traffic has picked up a lot this evening – in the last hour I’ve had three ships pass within a few miles.’
Mike has also found the extreme heat particularly uncomfortable. He reports, ‘It’s so, so hot inside that the last thing I want to do at the moment is sit at the chart table. it’s over forty degrees Celsius day and night.’ Often he has no choice but to be in the cabin as he has had to navigate around the Miskito and Rosalind Banks that stick out from the coast of Nicaragua and Honduras. On rounding the western tip of Cuba over the weekend there was a traffic separation scheme to be negotiated.
Mike is having to use all his navigation skills, working the currents and sometimes fickle winds to pass through this area. His decision to go through the Panama Canal instead of around Cape Horn is proving far more of a challenge than was first perceived.
Another weather phenomenon he has had to contend with are the powerful lightening storms. On Monday he wrote, ‘Today was a day of squalls and some of the craziest forked lightning I’ve seen so far – a bolt hit the water less than a mile away from me as I rounded the western tip of Cuba. Slightly worrying when I’m the tallest thing around!’
Another concern are pirates which are known to operate in this area. Mike is on an increased state of alert and his web tracker, showing the world Totallymoney.com course, has been suspended until he is clear of the region
If the wind gods remain kind, the 17 year old circumnavigator now expects to cross the Ushant/Lizard finish line off Falmouth UK in 21 days time and hopes to return to Gunwharf Quay, Portsmouth on August 25/26
Totallymoney (Photo courtesy of Totallymoney.com)
17 year old British sailor Mike Perham set out from Panama tlast night on the final stage of his record attempt to become the youngest solo yachtsman to take on the world. Sailing the Open 50 race yacht TotallyMoney.com. Mike set out on this extraordinary odyssey from Gunwharf Quay Portsmouth, England on November 15, 2008 and now expects to make a triumphant return within four weeks.
Mike from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, first hit the headlines two years ago when he became the youngest person ever to sail across the Atlantic single-handed at the age of just fourteen – a record recognised by the Guinness Book of Records.
The Guinness encyclopaedia of record facts and feats is monitoring Mike’s progress once more. Earlier this month, American teenager Zac Sunderland returned to Los Angeles to claim the youngest solo circumnavigation record, but Mike is three and a half months younger and has until mid November to get his name into the record books. Mike Broughton, the British weather guru, who has been advising Perham throughout his record attempt, forecasts a 29 day voyage back to Portsmouth to give the 17 year old more than 2 months to spare.
During Mike’s circumnavigation, which is sponsored by TotallyMoney.com , Vocalink, Skechers Footwear, Mastervolt, Kemp Sails and many other companies, he has overcome everything nature can throw at him including storm force winds and 50ft seas. He has also had to overcome major problems with his yacht’s self-steering system, rudder bearings and electrics. Stopping for repairs added months to the voyage and led to Mike missing the seasonal weather window for rounding Cape Horn. Continued bad weather in the Southern Ocean, which had Totallymoney.com surfing down waves at crazy speeds up to 28knots, eventually forced the teenager to sail much further north than he had intended and sensibly, he re routed his return to the Atlantic via the Panama Canal.
Mike’s daily blogs and videos have been an inspiration to thousands who read and watch them each day. Mixing picturesque sunsets with ferocious seas, he describes with remarkable insight, his encounters with whales and dolphins, – and contrasting rubbish that litter the sea. Mike said today: “I’m finally on the last leg and it feels just great. I only have about 5,000 miles to go, so I am hoping to be home inside four weeks. I really can’t wait, but I won’t push the boat too hard, as I would not want anything to happen that might have been preventable.“
Money raised by Mike during the 28,000-mile voyage is being donated to Save the Children and the Tall Ships Youth Trust.
