Sailing: McDonald in race against time to take on Pirates

A strong British interest in the November start of the Volvo Ocean Race was guaranteed yesterday when Ericsson appointed Neal McDonald as skipper of the Swedish entry. The former Olympian and multiple round-the-world racer will be joined by the navigator Steve Hayles.

A strong British interest in the November start of the Volvo Ocean Race was guaranteed yesterday when Ericsson appointed Neal McDonald as skipper of the Swedish entry. The former Olympian and multiple round-the-world racer will be joined by the navigator Steve Hayles.

The pairing will form the core of a crew expected to also include Jason Carrington, the man responsible for overseeing the build of the new 70ft yacht at Lymington.

McDonald took another Swedish yacht, Assa Abloy, to second place in the last race, four years ago. In London yesterday he said he hoped to go one better but admitted: "It's going to take some catching up. That's our challenge." The boat is not due to be launched until the end of next month.

The yacht is one of two being built to the same design. The other has started construction in Southampton and will be the entry of the United States, with the race being used to promote the Disney Corporation's latest film in the Pirates of the Caribbean series.