Neal McDonald

Date of Birth: 1963

In: Brighton, UK

Something about him that you don't know: He's a qualified naval architect and a member of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.

Who he is: This will be Neal’s seventh Volvo Ocean Race and his second in a non-sailing role. An Olympian and dinghy world champion, his first lap of the world was aboard Silk Cut in the 1997-98 Whitbread. He skippered Assa Abloy into second place in 2001-02, finished fifth in 2005-06 as skipper of Ericsson, was fifth again in 2008-09 with Walker on Green Dragon. He finished fourth in 2011-12 with Team Telefónica, before signing up for an onboard role with winning campaign Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing last edition – even dusting off his sea boots to sail a couple of legs.

Previous Volvo Ocean Races: 
2014-15 Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
2011-12, Team Telefónica
2008-09, Green Dragon
2005-06, Ericsson
2001-02, Assa Abloy
1997-98, Silk Cut