KIWI YACHTSMAN CONQUERS WORLD RECORD IN SAILING

Kiwi yachtsman, Graeme Kendall, has conquered a world record in solo sailing, having completed the Northwest Passage across the top of Canada & Alaska.

This world first is considered by some to be the 'Everest' of sailing and was one of the last major world sailing records to be tackled.

Kendall entered Lancaster Sound on August 27th & exited Barrow Point on September 9 non-stop in a record 12 days. Authorities in the region are estimating Kendall's time could also be the fastest recorded, against crewed vessels that have also sailed through the passage.

Kendall first attempted the crossing five years ago, but was held back by significant ice flows blocking the passage. This year the ice conditions were more favourable although there were still a number of vessels that couldn't get through.

The Northwest Passage has only recently become a navigable reality with the aid of satellite technology, which has given sailors the ability to monitor ice flows, and therefore a safe passage during the months of August and September. Warmer Arctic conditions have also contributed to making this milestone achievable.

Kendall is currently sailing through the Bering sea on the purpose-built 12.5 metre yacht, Astral Express, and plans to continue non-stop to Auckland, aiming to arrive mid-late October.

This journey is the second stage of a major circumnavigation covering 32 of the world's seaways and oceans, the first leg of which covered over 18,000 nautical miles and took over 4 months of non stop unassisted sailing.

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Notes to the editor:

Graham Kendall first set out to achieve his world record attempt in 2005, by sailing solo non-stop around the world via the Arctic Northwest Passage on the specially constructed Astral Express.

He travelled to North Cape, then westward past the north of Australia, around the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, north across the Atlantic to the northern coast of Canada and Greenland.
Here, Kendall discovered he was unable to proceed with his voyage due to significant ice flows blocking the Northwest Passage.

Kendall vowed to complete his journey and conquer his world record attempt in solo sailing.

In August of this year, Kendall re-embarked on his journey for a second time to crack the world record attempt.

Stage 1: Pacific ocean, Tasman sea, Coral Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, Gulf of Carpentaria, Arafura sea, Timor Sea, Indian ocean, Southern ocean, South Atlantic, North Atlantic, Labrador Sea, Davis Strait, Baffin Bay.
(18000 miles non-stop 4 months 2 days - 2005)

Stage 2: Davis Strait, Baffin Bay, Lancaster Sound, Barrow Strait, Peel Sound, Franklin Strait, Victoria Strait [shortcut], Queen Maude Gulf, Dease Strait, Coronation Gulf, Dolphin & Union Strait, Amunsden Gulf, Beaufort Sea, Arctic Ocean, Chukchi Sea, Bering Strait, Bering Sea, Pacific Ocean.

For interview opportunities, Graeme Kendall can be contacted on: +870773155690 To follow Graeme Kendall's journey, visit www.astralexpress.com