Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR) team will be keen to win Friday’s In-Port Race in front of their home crowd ahead of the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race to Sanya, China, which begins on Saturday.

Ace UAE sailor Adel Khalid, who is part of the ADOR team on Azzam, was excited about the challenge and wanted to make the most of the support he and his team will get.

“It [In-Port Race] will certainly be a big day for me. I was very excited when the second leg got over here and now to race in front of our own people will be great fun,” Khalid said.

“I just can’t wait to be out there and I’m sure we can put up a great show. If we can win the In-port Race, nothing like it. It will be a huge boost before we start the third leg.

“Being home with family and friends was great. I was feeling a bit homesick, everyone does. So it was a much-needed break [in Abu Dhabi] and now I’m raring to go.”

ADOR will have one change in crew for the third leg, as experienced British sailor Neal McDonald has again come out of retirement to fill in for the injured Phil Harmer.

The Australian injured his left hand at the start of the second leg in Cape Town, so McDonald, who was part of ADOR’s land team as performance manager, was forced to come to the rescue.

“I never want to leave sailing because it is my sport. But, certainly, my plan when we started this campaign wasn’t sailing on the boat,” said McDonald after finishing the pro-am race on Wednesday.

“Although I know all of them, I’ve sailed with them, been on the boat with them in training, sailed around England with them, I’m aware I’m breaking into a very close group. So I’m a bit concerned that I do the best job I can and don’t let them down.”

Though Harmer will be missing out on the third leg, he will be a part of the team for the In-Port Race.

“It’s not really a decision I was putting my hand up to make. We sat down with Neal and [skipper] Ian [Walker] and we all decided it was the best thing to do,” he said.

“If I decided to go on, there was every chance that after 23 days at sea I might lose another 5kg. So the plan is to get away now, get it fixed and come back to Sanya,” added Harmer, who lost an alarming 10kg during the second leg.