So you are now out at sea and have got your medical kit and have been on a course to help you understand a little first aid and medicine but things have got slightly out of hand and you feel you would like some help.

Well with the improvement in technology we are now able to offer support 24/7.

A long time ago communications with yachtsmen out at sea was really quite tricky. I remember Peter Blake radioing me from the Southern Ocean and the call coming to my desk phone while I was in afternoon surgery via Portishead Radio – it was very crackly and a poor line but we were able to establish what the problem was and how best to manage it in the circumstances that the yacht was in at the time.

Now my blackberry goes off and it could be anyone calling from anywhere in the world with a great signal.

What we feel we offer is a huge knowledge of medicine as well as a true understanding of what might be happening at the time out at sea and so therefore we will give appropriate and sensible advice for the condition that is causing the problem.

We have between us advised on huge numbers of problems form Marlin fish poking their noses through someone's leg to fractured femurs to diabetics sadly dying at sea as well as infected knees.

We have supported teams with their “cas evacs” and followed up crews when they are back on dry land.

We have also been involved in the Volvo for many years.