THEY put their lives on the line for their country, and very nearly paid the ultimate price.
Amputated legs, destroyed calf muscles, ruined hands - these are just some of the shocking injuries suffered by British soldiers.
But now a team of injured servicemen are proving to the world that they can compete - and win - at Skandia Cowes Week.
A mixed team of five injured soldiers, six able-bodied crew and a physiotherapist have been taking on some of the top sailors in their 40ft yacht Toe in the Water.
The campaign has been made possible thanks to sponsorship from Chandler's Ford computer company Microlink PC.
The firm donated £15,000 to get the Toe in the Water campaign to Cowes Week.
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Racing in Class II - one of the top classes in the regatta - the Toe in the Water team recorded some impressive results, including a fourth place on Tuesday.
Their inspirational campaign has even attracted the support of some of the UK's hottest sailing talents including Brian Thompson and Shirley Robertson.
At the heart of the crew are Nick Gilly' Gilliver and Chris Herbert, both young soldiers left scarred by fighting in Iraq.
Gilly was caught in a roadside bomb while on a routine patrol in Iraq in December 2006 which tore apart his left leg, while Chris' right leg was amputated after his patrol was hit by a bomb in Basra in February last year.
The pair have undergone rehabilitation at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey.
Gilly, 34, said: "I had never sailed before so when I was offered the chance to be crew on Toe in the Water I jumped at it.
"I have absolutely loved the whole experience, and it's brilliant being able to compete on the same playing field as able-bodied sailors - and beat them.
"On the boat we're not treated any different - there's no sympathy and that's really what we want.
"It makes the buzz as we cross the finish line in front of all these good sailors even better."
Chris, 20, who now walks on a carbon fibre prosthetic leg, said: "This week has been such a fantastic experience and really proves what we can do."
Microlink PC managing director Dr Nasser Siabi said: "What these guys are doing is absolutely incredible and it was something we just had to be involved in.
"Just talking to these guys about their outlook on life is so inspiring, and we are incredibly proud to be involved with this initiative."
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