Yes, there are lots of us out there although I am taking a year away from it to do a boatbuilding course. Only as an indulgence - not to make a living out of it.

You will love it. I brought my 46ft steel ketch from Portugal to Lymington last June. As crew I took my cousin - also ex Army. He had never sailed before, threw up for the entire trip, lived on deck on dry bread and fags the whole way, never missed a watch, jumped ashore at Lymington and, after 5 minutes, offered to do the trip again if necessary.

I could have asked for no more.

Do it small and do it now. As Pete Goss said - tomorrow is too late.