The oldest of seven children, Zac, a high school sophomore from Thousand Oaks, aspires to be the youngest person to solo-sail around the world and the only person to complete the journey before turning 18.

He will have until January 2010 to break the record held by David Dicks, who left Australia when he was 17, in 1996, and returned nine months later when he was 18 years, 41 days old.

For him, home will be a 11m Islander which he purchased for US$6,000 (S$8,000) while his bed will be a narrow bunk he'll secure himself into each night, so he doesn't roll off, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Here, he will also prepare meals on a stove although he admits his kitchen skills begin and end at the microwave (there is one onboard). His supply of fresh food will last four weeks.

After that, it is tins and freeze-dried food, supplemented by a few fish he may catch himself. He will spend periods of up to four to six weeks alone at sea, in between stops.

The Los Angeles docks will be his point of departure and return. Along the way he will be able to e-mail and blog on Zacsunderland.com as well.

'We are not starving and we are not dogs begging to be given a bone.'

LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADDAFI, opposing French proposals for a Mediterranean Union, saying it would harm Arab and African unity efforts