Graeme Kendall MNZM (Member of the New Zealand order of merit) is a highly experienced sailor who has sailed in many different parts of the world, including ocean racing. Born in Christchurch, he has sailed since he was a teenager and as an adult has owned several well-known classic heritage yachts including Galatea and Pastime. In 1986 he sailed in the Whitbread Round the World Race with Digby Taylor aboard NZI Enterprise. The following year Graeme and his friend Stan Pearson sailed his yacht Astral Rose in the inaugural two-handed Melbourne-to-Osaka race. He has been self-employed since the age of 25, with a business career that culminated in farming and residential property. Graeme currently lives in Auckland where he is a charter yacht skipper. His boyhood dream has always been to sail solo through the Northwest Passage.