SAILING: David Branigan talks with 16-year-old Seb Clover, who crossed the Atlantic on his own and opened this year's event at the RDS.

With a theme of "Getting Started", the Irish Marine Federation could hardly have selected a more apt person to open the Boat Show at the RDS yesterday than 16-year-old Seb Clover from East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

Just over one month ago, aged 15, he fulfilled a three-year-old ambition by crossing the Atlantic single-handed when he sailed his 32 footer from the Canaries to the Caribbean.

Not that anyone expects the average teenage - or older - newcomer to the sport to suddenly jump into a boat and undertake such a challenge. But the possibilities that sailing and boating have to offer are readily apparent to anyone, no matter what age they are, willing to learn the skills to perhaps one day undertake such an adventure.

Stressing the amount of preparation that went into his voyage, Seb cautioned that he wouldn't recommend the undertaking to anyone, though he admitted it was a great experience.

His father, Ian, added that a major worry would be people thinking that if a 15-year-old can do it, anyone can; it's simply not the case.

For the Clovers, this project started three years ago with a 16 foot cruiser. Seb successfully sailed the length of the Solent single-handed at the age of 11 and that planted the idea of a transatlantic voyage.

The next step was more offshore sailing and the purchase of two Contessa 32 footers, both almost 20 years old but proven cruising boats of manageable size, for both Seb and Ian to race against one another.

As a sailing instructor with the UK Sailing Academy, Seb had plenty of advice and assistance for his project. Eventually, in the first week of December last, the pair started from Tenerife on their 2,700 nautical mile course for Antigua. By the 11th of January, Ian had reached the finish ahead of his son. The following morning however, Seb crossed the line.

In fact, the finish would have been closer, worthy of several famous long-distance ocean racing classic clashes, had the island government not requested Seb to heave-to overnight to make a daylight arrival into English Harbour.

A massive ceremony had been laid on to celebrate the record-breaking achievement and the story made worldwide headlines.

The safe arrival of father and son ended a difficult test for Dolores Clover who yesterday said that while she had little difficulty giving her consent for Seb's voyage, the hardest aspect of the project was the waiting.

True to form, the critics, too, emerged from the woodwork after the finish.

According to the Clovers, 100 per cent of the critics knew nothing about sailing but that didn't stop one person complaining to the health authorities in Britain; some believed that there was a child protection issue involved.

For Seb Clover, there were more relevant legal issues to grapple with, such as the requirement to maintain watch while at sea. This international regulation applies to all seafarers, including teenage record breakers, and was one of the hardest aspects of the voyage.

"I found it difficult to get into a sleep pattern but eventually I was able to get sleep and keep regular watches, plot my position and check the boat," he said.

Commenting on his future plans was limited to "considering possibilities" but the clear impression is this young sailor holds little truck with following in the footsteps of the great British yachting heroes. This was a personal ambition and he is not driven by the desire to emulate the Mike Goldings and Ellen MacArthurs of the world. More pressing challenges are looming, such as his GCSEs and at the mention of that project, a furrowed brow appears on the teenager that suggests a second bout of sleep deprivation is on the horizon.

Meanwhile, the largest ever Boat Show runs at the Simmonscourt Pavilion of the RDS until Sunday evening.

The crowds appeared to be good yesterday and a new 40-foot cruising yacht was sold in the first hour of the show. The enlarged ISA section of the show, where the classes and sailing schools are located, was also busy, boosted by its strategic location.