The mac's back

Neal McDonald to stand in for Phil Harmer on leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race

Neal McDonald, Performance Director of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, has been pulled out of retirement to join the crew for the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race starting on Saturday.

The 51-year-old Brit completed in the last Volvo Ocean Race aboard Telefónica and subsequently announced that would be his last. But a hand injury and mysterious bug has forced out Australian Phil Harmer and McDonald was the obvious choice to step in.

McDonald will be competing in his seventh race to join Swede Roger Nilson and the current Team Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking (NED) who hold the record for most participations in the event.

“We need Phil back, we need him in good shape," said McDonald. "I think if we were looking at it in another perspective, if this was the last leg, Phil would probably do it, but we’ve got to look at the big picture, we want him to get back at 100% rather than at 95%, and he needs time to do that. I’m excited, probably more nervous to be honest, I don’t want to let the guys down, so there’s a bit of that about it.

“I’m pleased I’m not going into the Southern Ocean, and I’m pleased it’s one leg not eight. I think it takes its toll on your body and it’s a long term thing that slowly drives your body more and more into submission, so I’m glad I’m only doing a one-legger.”

Several of the other teams have also made changes for the Abu Dhabi in-port race, which starts at 1100 UTC today, and the start of Leg 3 for Sanya, China, on Saturday at 1100 UTC.

Iker Martinez is standing down as skipper of MAPFRE for this leg. See the changes on Dongfeng Race Team here. Team SCA’s bowman Sophie Ciszek has been forced out with a back injury and Liz Wardley is being rested as part of the team’s normal crew rotation. Sara Hastreiter (USA) and Sally Barkow (USA) both return.