One of Britain's most highly decorated sailing veterans, Olympian Neal McDonald, has spoken of his admiration for the traditional Arabian sailing vessel - the dhow - praising its centuries-old building process and the skills needed to navigate the wooden structures.

McDonald, a trained naval architect who recently signed on as Performance Director for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing - the Abu Dhabi contender for the 2014/2015 Volvo Ocean Race - says his admiration for traditional dhow building techniques and the crew that sail them came during a technical task visit to the UAE capital over 15 years ago.

"I was working on a technical mast-building project in Abu Dhabi when I got the chance to sail, in a single day, on a 60 foot, two-mast dhow and a 40 foot dhow and was blown away by the experience," said the 44-year-old, father-of-two who has contested the Volvo Ocean Race in six previous editions.

"The dhows are a sight to behold when they sail, they go like the wind and an incredible amount of skill is required to sail them."

The dhow has plied trading routes throughout the Arabian Gulf for centuries and the painstaking master carpentry which created one of the sturdiest vessels known to man is still practiced today. Dhow building is a triumph for the art of experience. The vessels, now often chartered for tour trips, are constructed, usually from teak, without blueprints. Hulls are forged by initially fitting planks and later ribs - in complete contrast to traditional Western methods. Measurements owe much to the accuracy of the eye. Dhows were traditional powered by rowing teams and sail - but today the diesel engine often takes the strain.

Neal McDonald is relishing the chance to become reacquainted with the Arabian dhow during the Volvo Ocean Race Abu Dhabi stopover, running from mid December 2014 to January 3, 2015.

Abu Dhabi will welcome the Volvo Ocean Race fleet next December from Recife in Brazil after one of the longest and potentially most-gruelling legs in the 40-year race history (9,707 nautical miles). The Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways In-Port Race, which home favourite Abu Dhabi Ocean Race won in 2012, will take place on 2 January 2015, with the fleet departing for Sanya, China the following day.

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which is behind the emirate's race campaign as well as the stopover, is pushing forward a package-strong and tourism-driven event, including a fan-friendly Destination Village on the stunning Abu Dhabi Corniche breakwater, as well as a compelling entertainment programme to leverage the seasonal holiday dates.

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About Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority:
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. 

The authority manages the emirate's tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

TCA Abu Dhabi supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate's heritage. A key authority role is to create synergy in the destination's development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.