Teenage sailor docks in Darwin on world record attempt
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Around the world: Zac Sunderland in Darwin today. (Amanda Berkahn)
A Californian teenager looking to become the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the globe solo arrived in Darwin this morning.
Three weeks ago, 16-year-old Zac Sunderland was nearing Papua New Guinea and braving squalls and huge seas.
He's now docked in Darwin for a week and is looking forward to a decent meal.
"It's good to start walking again, feels weird, but it's good," he says.
His father Laurence has flown out from California to see him.
"I'm amazed at how well he looks and how he's doing. I'm a very proud dad."
The young sailor is confident he'll break the records of Western Australia David Dicks, who finished the feat aged 18.
After Darwin, it's on to South Africa via the Indian Ocean, where severe storms are predicted.
But he says he's faced some tough sailing so far.
"The squalls around the equator are pretty crazy. I had good 40 knot squalls and stuff and big seas.
"Also, going into Papua New Guinea had some really big seas getting in there, 35 knots constant, and big seas.
"You don't really have time to be scared out there, it's more like just dealing with it. If you get scared, you mess up."
