A SCHOOLBOY who became the youngest person to sail solo around Britain has won a prestigious award.

Hythe Sailing Club member Tim Long, 15, has been crowned Sailor of the Month by Seahorse magazine, published by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

His mother Sue said: "He’s thrilled to have won, and grateful for the massive support he received from across the UK and beyond. Thank you to all those voted and shared."

Previous winners have included Hampshire sailing legends Ben Ainslie and Dee Caffari.

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A Seahorse spokesman said Tim had raised more than £11,000 for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

He added: “A nice symmetry since it was Ellen’s own round-Britain solo adventure when she was 18 that kick-started what turned into a long-distance sailing career.

“Tim sailed 1,600 nautical miles on his way to undercutting the previous youngest lap of a then 17-year-old Tom Webb in 2011.”

Tim was congratulated by Dame Ellen as he neared the end of a record-breaking round-Britain voyage. The 44-year-old sportswoman visited him in Cowes, where he anchored ahead of his triumphant return to Hamble Point Marina.

In 2005 she broke the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe.

Tim said: “Ellen has been my idol ever since I read her books at the age of 12, so when she came into Shepards Marina with her dog Norman I was completely taken aback.”

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Dame Ellen’s charity young people sailing to help them recover from cancer and other serious illnesses.

Describing Tim’s voyage she said: “It’s an incredible achievement for anyone to sail single-handed around the UK but to do it at 15 really is something else.

“The legacy of what he’s done will be even more far-reaching in terms of helping to change the lives of young people in recovery from cancer.

“Young people are going to need the Trust more than ever after Covid-19.”