A story of triumph over adversity. Mike Cogswell, an avid sailor and regular Swan 49 competitor, broke his back in a skiing accident just four years ago.

Determined and committed, he is back on the sailing circuit and competing at the highest level, namely trialling for the 2.4m International Class at the Paralympic Games in Athens next year.

This is a costly business and together with RYA Sailability assistance, the Fareham based financial services company Zurich has this month come on board to get him to the Worlds next spring and further.

With only 15 countries allowed to compete at the Paralympics and seven already having made the grade, the pressure is on 39-year-old Mike to get the best out of the boat and himself.

Through RYA Sailability, the national charity for disabled sailing in the UK, and extra help from Zurich, he will be in a position to compete at events around the country and in Europe, perfecting his racing technique in this highly competitive and technically difficult boat to sail.

The sponsorship comes from Navigators and General, Britain's longest established yacht and motorboat insurer, a division of Zurich based in Fareham. It will cover the cost of his transportation and travel as well as making sure he has top quality sails and equipment to give him the best possible chance of representing Britain next year.

The 2.4m International Class is a single-handed boat approximately four metres long and is a scaled down version of a 12m racing yacht.

The boat cannot capsize or sink and can be adapted for both hand and foot sailing, making it particularly suitable for disabled sailors.

Mike, who is paralysed from the chest down, competes at least twice a week with able-bodied 2.4m sailors at Queen Mary Sailing Club.

Sailing is one of the few sports where the physically disabled can compete on equal terms with the able-bodied. Mike currently trains under 2.4m class coach Philip Warner at the Queen Mary Paralympic Centre of Excellence.

The Sailability group at Queen Mary Sailing Club provides disabled people with the opportunity to try sailing for themselves and Mike's boat and all equipment purchased with the help of Zurich's sponsorship is made available to the group when not in use.