AFP - A 17-year-old British boy on Thursday became the youngest person to sail solo around the world with assistance, as he entered British waters after 156 days at sea.
   
Mike Perham crossed the finishing line between Lizard Point, the most southerly point in Britain, and Ushant in northern France, in his 15-metre (50-feet) yacht shortly before 0900 GMT, escorted by a Royal Navy guard ship.
   
"I've made it, I've made my dream come true and it feels amazing," he said.
   
His father Peter, who climbed on board after his son had crossed the line for the final two-day sail into Portsmouth on the south coast of England, 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."
   
Mike hoped to complete the challenge non-stop, but problems with his boat's rudder and other hitches forced him to pull into port three times, meaning his world record is the youngest solo circumnavigation with assistance.
   
He took the record aged 17 years and 164 days, two months younger than Zac Sunderland, an American who completed his voyage last month.
   
Guinness World Records must still verify the record, but its editor-in-chief, Craig Glenday, said: "Even the most experienced of sailors would be tested by the mental and physical stamina required to achieve a record of this magnitude.
   
"Mike achieved it at a young age and this is a testament to his courage and unparalleled sense of adventure."
   
At an age when most of his peers are still at school, Mike set off in November for a voyage that took him via Portugal, the Canaries, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and celebrated his 17th birthday on the Indian Ocean in March.
   
His route also took him via the Panama Canal after he missed the weather window to sail around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.
   
Mike frequently had to carry out repairs to his battered yacht during the voyage and he ate almost constantly to keep his strength up.
   
His success comes as social workers in the Netherlands have taken action to prevent 13-year-old Laura Dekkers from trying to break the same record.
   
They want to strip her parents, who support their daughter's plans, of parental rights and have her declared a ward of court to stop her setting sail.
   
According to Guinness World Records, the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe, sailing solo, non-stop and unsupported is Jesse Martin, of Australia.
   
He sailed from Melbourne, Australia, on December 8, 1998 aged 18 years 104 days and returned on October 31 1999, taking 327 days 12 hours 52 minutes.