Né le

Fait équipe avec Mike Golding dans la Calais Round Britain Race

prend le départ de la transat Jacques Vabre 2019 sur Imoca avec Alex Thomson

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Palmarès :

2019 :
- ABD dans la transat Jacques Vabre 2019 sur Imoca avec Alex Thomson

2006 :
- 1er Rolex Meadle sea Race
- 1er Rolex Fasnet

2001 :
- 1er Sydney Hobart
- 1er The Race

Portrait :

2003 Fastnet champion Neal McDonald started racing when he was 12. Neal’s father had a Graduate dinghy at his local club, Warsash SC on the River Hamble.

“I remember going to school on a Monday,” Neal recalls “and all my friends talking about what they did over the weekend, playing football and so on. They never understood what this whole sailing thing was all about.”

“Club sailing is the answer,” says Neal. “You can rent a Foxer — a great little dinghy suitable for all ages and experience, with room for all the family — on the River Hamble for £10-£20 per day; that’s cheaper than a round of golf. “There are many ways to get into sailing. I strongly believe that children should be allowed to explore boats freely and discover sailing without any pressure from Mum or Dad. I’ve witnessed too many parents jumping up and down on the foreshore as their child nervously attempts to get to grips with the new £10,000 Optimist they have just purchased.”

Neal speaks of how sailing helped him through school, giving him goals, great social skills and a healthy competitive attitude which has remained with him throughout life.