Schoolboy breaks solo round-Britain sailing record

A boy, 15, has become the youngest person to sail solo around Britain.

Timothy Long, from Aylesbury, set sail on 16 July from Hamble Marina, Hampshire, navigating anti-clockwise around the coast.

He arrived back into the marina, aboard his 28ft (8.5m) vessel, at about 11:00 BST having covered more than 1,600 nautical miles.

Timothy raised more than £7,000 during the challenge, in aid of The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

Timothy said: "I can't believe I've actually done it. It's all quite surreal - it hasn't quite hit me yet. I just wanted to try to do something that would push me and make me a better sailor.

"I'm back at school on Monday, which will be a bit of a shock."

And despite missing the start of the new term, Timothy's mum Sue Elder said his school had been very supportive.

He decided to make the trip inspired by record-breaking sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur and largely followed a route she completed in 1995.

The 11-week voyage - divided into several legs with overnight stops in ports and marinas - saw Timothy cover an average of about 50 miles per day, with several longer passages of up to 100 miles.

Thanking him for supporting the charity, Dame Ellen said: " I was only a few years older than Tim when I did the same and I was awestruck by the incredible beauty of the British Isles. There's something magical about looking back on your home country from the sea.

"The money Tim raises will make a huge difference in young people being able to rebuild their lives after cancer."

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national charity that supports young people aged eight to 24 to rebuild their confidence after cancer by introducing them to sailing.

The previous record was set in 2011 by 17-year-old Tom Webb, who successfully completed a similar challenge.