Almost there! Teen sailor approaches final port
17-year-old due home on Thursday after circumnavigating globe alone
 | Zac Sunderland was 16 when he left California on June 14, 2008 with the goal of becoming the youngest person to sail around the world alone. He's due home on Thursday. |
Lenny Ignelzi / AP |
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SAN DIEGO - American teenager Zac Sunderland headed for home on Tuesday in his attempt to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone.
Sunderland pulled out of San Diego aboard his 11-meter (36-foot) boat, Intrepid, after spending about 36 hours in port to clear customs and have his engine repaired. He uses the engine for going into and out of ports, and in case of emergencies such as getting out of the way of ships that might not see him.
With about 160 kilometers (100 miles), he's due in Marina del Rey, in the Los Angeles area, on Thursday, 13 months and two days after he left.
"I'd do it again in a heartbeat," he said on Monday while in port. "It's been an amazing year. Tons of fun, lots of great stuff."
Sunderland was 16 when he left Marina del Rey on June 14, 2008.
His total trip is estimated at 45,000 kilometers (28,000 miles).
Vying for spot in record book
Sunderland turns 18 on Nov. 29. The record for the youngest solo circumnavigation is held by Australian David Dicks, who was 18 years, 41 days when he completed his voyage in 1996.
Also trying for the record is 17-year-old British sailor Mike Perham, who is a few months younger than Sunderland and sailing a bigger, faster boat. Perham has had breakdowns and been forced to stop in New Zealand for repairs, but could supplant Sunderland in the record book.
The shaggy-haired Sunderland is from Thousand Oaks, northwest of L.A. His father, Laurence, is a shipwright who has met him at various stops around the world, often to help him repair various damage to the boat.
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