October 10, 2024

Dee Caffari (Photo by onEdition)
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.

Dee Caffari from Southampton, first sailed around the world skippering a yacht in the 2004/5 BT Global Challenge, then completed the same ‘wrong way’ course against the prevailing winds alone in record time in 2006 aboard the yacht Aviva.  In February last year she completed the gruelling 2008/2009, east-about Vendee Globe race, finishing in 6th position to set a second world record.
Past recipients to be honoured with an Ocean Cruising Club’s Award of Merit include fellow British sailors Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and  Mike Golding, as well as Japanese circumnavigator Minoru Saito.

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.  

 

 

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