The world’s youngest solo circumnavigator Mike Perham, 18, has withdrawn from the Bounty Boat expedition due to commence this month, on doctor’s orders. Mike, who had his appendix removed earlier this year, is making a slower than expected recovery.

The Talisker Bounty Boat expedition will continue with an announcement on Mike Perham’s replacement expected shortly. A disappointed Mike said, “I was totally gutted when it became clear that I wouldn’t be fit to participate in the expedition but as Don would say, this is all part of the adventure. I want to wish Don and the crew the best of luck for the expedition.”

Expedition leader, Australian Don McIntyre says, “This is a great shock to Mike and I but medical checks are an important part of our risk minimisation process. It is a loss for the expedition as he was a fun part of the team but the adventure continues and we are moving forward now with applications open for a man or woman to join the crew.”

The crew of the Talisker Bounty Boat are due to set sail from Sydney on April 9th with the expedition commencing on April 28th, from the exact spot that Captain William Blight’s voyage began. In 1789, Bligh was cast adrift with crew in an open wooden boat during the Mutiny of the Bounty. Abandoned in the middle of the Pacific, Bligh and the crew were left to sail 3,700 miles to safety, scavenging what they could along the way to survive.

The Talisker Bounty Boat is the first time a re-enactment of this legendary open-boat sail from Tonga to Timor has been attempted.  Led by Australian adventurer Don McIntyre, the crew are attempting to raise over $250,000 for The Sheffield Institute Foundation for Motor Neurone Disease (SIF) which is building the world’s first research Institute into Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

To follow the expedition and donate to this cause, visit www.taliskerbountyboat.com.