A YOUNG sailing star from Potters Bar has set off from Panama on the final stage of his bid to become the youngest solo yachtsman to circumnavigate the world.

Seventeen-year-old Michael Perham hopes to sail his Open 50 race yacht TotallyMoney.com into Portsmouth within four weeks to claim the record.

He left England on November 15, 2008, and has overcome storm-force winds, 50ft waves and constant problems with his boat's self-steering system, rudder bearings and electrics to make it this far.

Stopping for repairs added months to the voyage and Mike consequently missed the seasonal weather window for rounding Cape Horn. This led to continued rough seas in the Southern Ocean, which had TotallyMoney.com surfing down waves at speeds of up to 28 knots.

The teenager was eventually forced to sail much further north than he had intended and he re-routed his return to the Atlantic via the Panama Canal.

Mike said yesterday on his blog: "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."

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 expert who has been advising the youngster throughout his trip, forecasts a 29-day voyage back to Portsmouth.

Mike, of Oakroyd Avenue, 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 14.