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Assa Abloy skipper impresses

McDonald shows off the trophy for winning leg five

LONDON, England -- Assa Abloy skipper Neal McDonald has emerged from the Volvo Ocean Race as a major league player in the world of sailing.

The Swedish boat shocked sailing fans with its rise through the 52,300-kilometre (32,700 mile) race to second place overall after getting off to a poor start.

On the first leg a tactical blunder led to skipper Roy Heiner being sacked and McDonald, then first mate, taking over the role.

Crewman Jason Carrington was quoted on the race's official Web site saying: "We just needed a strong leader, and we got that with Nelly [Neal McDonald], he really turned it all around. The whole spirit in the team is brilliant, like nothing I've experienced before."

YOUR SAY E-mail us with your views  on the world of sailing   RESOURCES Sailing Glossary    MORE STORIES • Assa Abloy victorious in home port  • Assa Abloy challenges Illbruck  • Assa Abloy wins leg five  • Assa Abloy triumphs in third leg

McDonald only joined the team a couple of months before the race start in Southampton, England, resigning from his post in the America's Cup GBR Challenge to spend more time with his wife -- Amer Sports Too skipper Lisa McDonald.

According to the official Web site, some observers have suggested Assa Abloy might have won if McDonald had been at the helm from the start.

"You can never go back and look at it like that. Illbruck thoroughly deserved to win. They've got an incredible group of people aboard. I don't think you can go back and say that. We did the best we could and we are where we are," McDonald said.

Assa Abloy finished third in the ninth and final leg, followed by McDonald's wife's all-female crew in fourth position. Amer Sports Too beat their male team mates on board Grant Dalton's Amer Sports One, finishing in fifth place.