A NEW Milton soldier took time off from his normal duties to pass on his sailing skills to his fellow servicemen and women.

Vaughan Marsh, who serves as an armourer with the Royal Engineers, took to the waters of the Solent to teach a crew from various Army units.

They spent a week on a 34-foot yacht learning how to become coastal skippers in a team building exercise.

The 39-year-old Staff Serg-eant told the Daily Echo: "The Army puts great store by using sailing as a team training exercise. You have it all there in sailing you see.

"It's character building and is different from the first day to the last, as the crew become more of a team.

"I started sailing as a Corporal in Germany when I was about 23 and only because I was encouraged to do a dinghy sailing course as adventure training, and I wasn't partic-ularly keen to do so. I haven't looked back since. I love it!"

Vaughan is now qualified as a Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster Instructor Exam-iner and is hoping to work in the sailing industry full time when his military career finishes.