English sailing couple John and Barbara Ashfield share a common bond – they both have an obsession for competing in ocean races.

For property developer and farmer John, it's the navigational side of the sport that gets his juices flowing most, while former Warwick Academy teacher Barbara simply enjoys the liberating sensation of sailing in open sea.

"It's just the thrill of being out of sight of land, especially when the sun goes down and you are on your own under the stars. And then when the sun comes up in the morning you feel as though you have achieved something and it's the start of a very special day," she explained.

Husband John added: "The navigation is the thing that really gets me.

"I find it fascinating to be hundreds of miles away from a piece of land you are navigating to and then you hit it smack on.

"I know we use GPS these days, but it's still great fun and very rewarding when you actually get there.

"It's a tremendous sense of achievement when you have done something really worthwhile."

The sailing couple were originally due to compete in their second Marion to Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race together aboard Paul Hubbard's Bermuda Oyster this year.

However, Hubbard and crew decided against making the 645-mile voyage at the 11th hour.

Going into the race, watch captain John felt Bermuda Oyster had stood a good chance of doing well in her class.

He said: "I think this race will probably favour us because the winds are going to be fairly strong and Bermuda Oyster is a heavy boat and she sails well through heavy weather. It will be a disadvantage to the lighter boats, but the heavier boats will do well."

Wife Barbara was also upbeat.

"We have a really, really good team onboard and Paul Hubbard, the skipper, is just fantastic.

"We have been sailing together for the longest time and so we work really well as a team," she said.

Husband John agreed.

"Between us there's just so many years of experience that we have complete and total faith in each others'ability," he said.

It is often said sailing and romance go hand-in-hand and the Ashfields are, perhaps, living proof that bonds can be solidified even at sea.

"We usually don't like to sail in the same boat together, but we tried it once and it seemed to be okay," Barbara smiled. "Our kids are also old enough now that if we both fell overboard they would be okay.

"I am very lucky in that John is a very good PA (personal assistant) and we just take time out time to do something we both love."