A teenager is setting out to sail single-handedly across the Atlantic and into the record books.

Fifteen-year-old Seb Clover will be racing his father on the 2,700-mile crossing.

Seb, from Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, has been training for the race from Tenerife to Antigua since he was 12-years-old.

The pair hope the race will see Seb setting a new world record as the youngest Transatlantic sailor.

Seb has been in training since he was 12

Christmas for Seb will be spent alone at sea on board his yacht, Reflection, more than 1,000 miles from land.

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.

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

His father Ian's boat is called Xixia and both vessels are Contessa 32-class yachts, specially adapted for single-handed sailing.

The two 32 foot (9.7metre) sailing boats are in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, awaiting the race's start at 1030 GMT on 15 December.

The race is expected to finish in English Harbour, Antigua, between 5 and 10 January, 2003.