Stuart McLachlan is not on the boat, but his work behind the scenes work has helped to keep Telefonica Blue near the front of the Volvo Ocean race.
McLachlan (34), a former Dunedin yachtsman, is in charge of the yacht when it it is in port.
It is his responsibility to make sure the boat is seaworthy for the next stage of the journey.
He is in Singapore with the team at the moment and, when the race resumes, will move to China to set up camp there.
The yachts leave Singapore on January 15.
His job is to set up a team to physically check the rigging, sails and other apparatus to make sure it can safely get to its next destination.
The work that his son is doing was explained to the Otago Daily Times by his father, Ron McLachlan, who lives in Dunedin.
"The members of Stuart's team are all specialists and know what to do," Ron explained.
Stuart McLachlan grew up in Dunedin and was educated at Logan Park High School before starting a boilermaking apprenticeship at Sims Engineering.
He then worked for a construction company in Auckland.
He was a member of the Port Chalmers Yacht Club and competed at national level in the optimist and javelin classes and competed in the Sanders Cup.
McLachlan has been a professional sailor in England for the past five years, sailed with the Mean Machine team, and competed in the Mediterranean Cup.
He is rated highly by his team because of his engineering skills and the ability to apply himself to any aspect of the work of a yachting syndicate.
"It comes from having to do everything himself when he races in Dunedin," his father said.
"Stuart started yachting when he was aged 8 and the sport has always been his passion and it still is."
After three legs of the Volvo Ocean race, Telefonica Blue is in second place with 30.5 points.
The race leader is Ericsson 4 on 35 points.
The yacht was built in Spain.
Its sister ship, Telefonica Black, was built in Tauranga.
Stuart McLachlan is engaged to Jo Bailey, of Wellington, who has joined him on the Volvo tour.
