Solo sailor at 16

US teen is one of the youngest people ever to sail around the world alone

US teen is one of the youngest people ever to sail around the world alone

A Californian teenager returned home on Thursday after becoming one of the youngest people ever to sail around the world alone.

"The last 13 months have been crazy andu00a0 it feels awesome to finally get back," said Zac Sunderland (17), as he stepped on to dry land at the end of his voyage and was welcomed by friends and family.

On my own: Zac Sunderland left the port of Marina del Rey, California,u00a0 on June 14, 2008, aboard his 36-foot boat, Intrepid

At the age of 16, Sunderland left the port of Marina del Rey in California on June 14, 2008, aboard Intrepid, his 36-foot boat,u00a0 and headed west.

He celebrated his 17th birthday on November 29 while off the Cape of Good Hope.

Now, he wants to write a book about his adventures and hopes it inspires young people to get motivated about their lives.

"Society puts younger people in a box and nobody's expected to do much. They are only supposed to attend high school and play football," he said.
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"There's so much people can do with the right motivation and ambition," he added.

Another 17-year-old, Briton Mike Pernham, who isu00a0 currently on a world trip, congratulated Sunderland on his blog.

"I knew that some people would try to pit us against each other and it bugs me," he wrote.

Charlie Nobles, executive director of the American Sailing Association, said Sunderland's around-the-world voyage was an amazing feat.

"The patience, knowledge and fortitude required for such a journey is immeasurable. This is an age group we associate with all things instantaneous texting, tweeting at a mile per second."

What next?

According to the American Sailing Association, over the past 13 months and roughly 51,860 kilometres, Sunderland dodged gigantic freighters, languished in the doldrums and limped into ports with equipment failures.
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The association added that less than than 250 people have sailed solo around the world.

Sunderland's next adventure is likely to be scaling the Mount Everest.

Back from the Dead in 12 Days

BRITISH backpacker Jamie Neale, who was lost in the New south Wales (NSW) Blue Mountains for 12 days wasu00a0 discharged from the Blue Mountains Hospital in Katoomba, yesterday.

The 19-year-old spent three days in hospital after being lost for almost two weeks. "I'd like to thank everyone for their support, especially the hospital staff," he said.