A 'HELLO' message from the Atlantic has been sent by Rossendale's 'teenage yachtsman Thomas Elmer.

The 18-year-old from Spring Gardens, Cowpe, is the youngest competitor in this year's Times Round The World Yacht Race.

He is on board the 60ft Liverpool Clipper, completing the final 7,500 nautical miles leg from Salvador to Portsmouth via New York and Jersey.

He e-mailed the Lancashire Evening Telegraph from the Atlantic to say hello to friends in Rossendale where he recently finished A-levels at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.

He said: "The sail from Salvador to New York was fun, except that we sat in the doldrums, bobbing around for three to four days. Also we came in sixth, which meant we have an uphill struggle to get a podium place.

"The time in New York was great and it was nice to see my uncle and sister who had flown out to see me. New York is amazing and it is true that it never sleeps.

"At the moment we off the coast of Newfoundland in second place. The winds have been good and we have had luck with us.

"Everyone on board is fine and the atmosphere is good, although a lot of the crew have been on the boat for ten months and are looking forward to getting home."

He said they were 2,238 nautical miles from Jersey, the next port of call. After that it was a further 160 to Portsmouth. "All being well we should be in Jersey on September 17 and back to the mainland by the 21st".

He had to raise £8,000 to make the journey and wrote to local companies, held a balloon race and other fundraisers and received help from family and friends.

Thomas, 6ft 1ins and 20 st, is a prop forward for Lancashire and Rossendale Rugby Club thirds.

Anyone wanting to keep up with the race can log on to www.clipper-ventures.com