Seb Clover

Infobox_Person


image_size = 150px
name = Sebastian Clover
caption =
education = Ryde School with Upper Chine, Isle of Wight
birth_date = birth date and age|1987|1|15
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
other_names = Seb Clover
residence = East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England
known_for = Sailing solo across the Atlantic at 15.
occupation = yachtsman
parents = Dolores and Ian Clover

Sebastian Clover, more commonly known as Seb Clover (born 15 January 1987)cite book | title = Guinness Book of World Records 2004 | publisher = Guinness | date = 2003-08-27 | pages = | isbn = 978-1892051202] cite news | title = A mum who's brave enough to let go | work = The Northern Echo | pages = | date = 2003-01-15 | url = http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2003/1/15/107904.html | accessdate = 2007-01-17] from East Cowescite news | title = Teenage Sailor Takes Seb's Atlantic Title | work = Solvent.tv | date = 2007-01-03 | url = http://www.solent.tv/pageviewer.aspx?page=S633034311923877500 | accessdate = 2007-01-12] on the Isle of Wight, England, was the youngest person to sail across the Atlantic Ocean single-handed before Michael Perham took the record from him in 2007. He also did a solo crossing of the English Channel when he was 11, which directly resulted in his mother daring him to try crossing the Atlantic Ocean next.cite news | title = You've done us proud | work = This is Hampshire | pages = | date = 2003-01-17 | url = http://archive.thisishampshire.net/2003/1/17/55288.html | accessdate = 2007-01-17] He was educated at Ryde School with Upper Chine, a co-educational independent school on the Isle of Wight.

The record

From 19 December 2002 to 12:50 GMT on 12 January 2003, Seb raced his father across the Atlantic Ocean for 2700 milescite news | last = Clover | first = Seb | title = Sailing into the record books | work = Newsround | pages = | date = 2002-04-09 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/club/your_reports/newsid_1912000/1912363.stm | accessdate = 2007-01-17] between Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary Islands and Nelson's Dockyard on Antigua. Both father and son sailed identical 32 feet (11 metre) Contessa 32 yachts. Seb made the crossing in a yacht called "Reflection", his father in one called "Xixia".

The voyage did not pass without problems. Both racers had unnerving close encounters with killer whales and rigging problems meant Seb was unable to catch up with his father. He had to repair a shroud fixture that broke in heavy weather.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Top Sailors Accept Awards at Show |url= http://www.britishmarine.co.uk/DocImages/ForceDownload.asp?id=829 |format= PDF |work= British Marine News |publisher= British Marine Federation | page= 3 |date= February 2004 |accessdate= 2007-01-17 |quote= ] His priority became to keep the mast standing and finish without pushing the boat too much.cite news | title = Killer whales visit teen sailor | work = BBC News | pages = | date = 2003-01-06 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2630983.stm | accessdate = 2007-01-17]

Seb eventually lost the race and arrived in Antigua a day behind his fathercite news | title = Father beats son in Atlantic race | work = BBC News | pages = | date = 2003-01-11 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2648457.stm | accessdate = 2007-01-17] when he was 15 years and 362 days old. He lost his title in January 2007, when Michael Perham made the crossing at the age of 14.cite news | author= |title=Boy sails into the record books | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/6226775.stm |work=BBC News |date= 2007-01-03 |accessdate=2007-03-05] .

Education

Ryde School with Upper Chine, Isle of Wight

Awards

In the aftermath of his achievement, Clover received several awards. He was named Best Prodigy of the Year by the Duchess of York in the second edition of Britain's Brilliant Prodigies Awards.cite news | title = Sailor boy Seb named Prodigy of the Year | work = Newsround | pages = | date = 2003-04-26 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/uk/newsid_2977000/2977955.stm | accessdate = 2007-01-17] He also received the Young Sportsman Award in the BBC South Sports Awards 2003cite news | title = BBC South's Sports Awards 2003 | work = BBC News | pages = | date = 2003-12-08 | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/southampton/sport/2003/sportsawards.shtml | accessdate = 2007-01-17] and the Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year Award 2003 which was announced at the Schroders London Boat Show.

References