MAPFRE call on McDonald for 2017-18

Volvo Ocean Race legend Neal McDonald is back for his eighth consecutive edition – as the Sports and Performance Director of MAPFRE – and although his role is primarily shore-based, he's bringing his sailing boots. 

The 53-year-old Brit played a key role on shore as Performance Manager with 2014-15 winners Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, and will be putting his unique experience and insight into professional sport's toughest team of teamwork to good use as he aims to help Xabi Fernández and his crew lift the trophy for the first time in Spain's history.

"I will do some legs," he revealed. "We'll choose the best sailors for each leg – and it may not be the same people every time. Our experience in the last race proves that this is a very long hard race, with short stopovers, people get tired and can't focus in some situations, so I'm sure we will make changes and I think other teams will probably do the same, too."

Having raced onboard Fortuna and Telefónica in the past, this will be the third time that McDonald has pledged his allegiance to Spain – but why MAPFRE?

I will do some legs – our experience in the last race proves that this is a very long hard race, with short stopovers, people get tired and can't focus in some situations, so I'm sure we will make changes

Neal McDonald

"I wanted to be involved in a strong team again," Neal explained. "I've done many races before and I've been lucky enough to be on a team that has won an edition before.

"MAPFRE is a team that I know a lot of people in, and I like that. It's not just about the sailing team, it's about the people behind-the-scenes running the programme. I know this team well and I'm very happy to be with them again."

Neal's Volvo Ocean Race career stretches way back to 1993-94, when the race was known as the Whitbread. He first tackled the event as a crew member on Spanish boat Fortuna – and it was a baptism of fire, as they broke their mast twice in the first 24 hours of the race, and ended up retiring.

He returned for the following edition, in 1997-98, onboard Silk Cut, and then stepped up to skipper Assa Abloy in 2001-02. Ericsson snapped him up in 2005-06, and then Green Dragon in 2008-09.

His last race as a full-time sailor was in 2011-12, when he raced alongside Xabi, Pablo Arrarte and Ñeti Cuervas-Mons as watch captain on Telefónica. He then called time on his career – hanging up his sailing boots, and switching to a shore-based role with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing – although he did manage to sail one leg of the 2014-15 edition.

This project is very close to Xabi's heart, so I am one of his eyes and ears

Neal McDonald

"Xabi is very busy and can't put as much time he would like into the project now, but it is very close to his heart so I am one of his eyes and ears," says McDonald.

"I’m close to the project, I speak to him most days, normally by email because of the time difference, and between myself and two or three of the other team members, we are watching and guarding the project as long as he wants. That's my primary role in the next months: working for Xabi."