BOY sailor Michael Perham's troubled round-the-world voyage has hit another snag – after his boat sprung a leak. Luckily for the 17-year-old, he had just set sail again from a stop-off in Tasmania. Michael, of Oakroyd Avenue, Potters Bar,

BOY sailor Michael Perham's troubled round-the-world voyage has hit another snag - after his boat sprung a leak.

Luckily for the 17-year-old, he had just set sail again from a stop-off in Tasmania.

Michael, of Oakroyd Avenue, Potters Bar, wrote on his online blog: "When I ducked my head into the aft compartment to have a check on the rudder bearing, I was shocked to see loads of water sloshing about.

"I quickly bailed out the water and, after a closer inspection, I could see water coming over the lower bearing and into the boat.

"I phoned the marina, spun round and headed straight back."

He added: "I'm incredibly glad I found this leak 20 miles out rather than halfway across the Pacific!"

Michael is hoping to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handed.

But his epic 24,000-mile voyage has been plagued with problems.

He was forced to stop in Portugal, Gran Canaria and Cape Town after problems with the autopilot on his Open 50 Racing yacht.