A 15-year-old schoolboy is attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo across the Atlantic.

Seb Clover, from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, set sail from Tenerife for a 2,700-mile voyage to Antigua on Thursday.

As well as trying to break the record, the teenager is racing against his father for the three-week journey.

Seb told BBC Breakfast he was undertaking the voyage simply because sailing was "what I do best".

He's done all the training, and some - I'm not bothered about his ability out there Seb's father Ian

He added that the crossing had not been his idea - but his mother's.

Seb's father Ian, a sailing instructor, said the two were highly unlikely to see each other very much once they had set off.

"While the boats are fairly evenly matched, a difference of half a knot in speed puts you a long way apart by the end of one day, let alone three weeks."

He denied that he was putting the youth at risk by encouraging him to embark on the crossing.

'Element of risk'

"He's done all the training, and some. I'm not bothered about his ability out there.

"He's no more at risk than anyone else that races across the Atlantic - and all sports carry some element of risk."

Asked whether he would let his son win, Mr Clover said: "No way. I want to be in Antigua to see my son set a new world record."

The pair are sailing in 32-foot-long Contessa class yachts, adapted for single-handed sailing.

'Self-motivated'

Seb has been training for the race since he was 12.

Simon Davies, of the UK Sailing Academy, which has trained Seb, said: "I think it will be challenging, but he has got the personality and temperament to get through it.

Seb has been in training since he was 12

"He's very keen and self-motivated. He will give his dad a run for his money."

Christmas will be spent alone at sea - by that time the boats should be at about the half-way point, more than 1,000 miles from land in any direction.

The pairs' expected arrival date is about 10 January.

Seb had meant to start his trip on Sunday, but was delayed by bad weather.

The pair set off at 1000 GMT and headed south to catch the trade winds.