Clive and Alex Moreham were plodding along as an IT consultant and sales director respectively in their home town of Stevenage when, five years ago, a yachting holiday reignited Clive's childhood passion for sailing and sparked a desire to set up a sailing business abroad.

'It was unlike me to do something like this. I'd gone straight from college to work and had never done any travelling. I didn't know what it would be like, but knew it would be better than working in England,' says Clive.

After four years of planning, and despite Alex's reluctance to leave, they took two-year-old son Ben to La Gomera, in the Canaries, after falling in love with the island on a visit.

There were problems: it took eight months to get the sailing licence needed to start running the business, and they had to rent a cheap, nasty flat. 'It was noisy, cockroaches scrabbled under the bed at night and we could smell raw sewage,' said Alex.

But after a depressing period the business improved; they made friends and found a home in La Gomera's capital, San Sebastian; a friendly unspoilt town with streets full of character.

'It took double the time and money we expected, but for us as a family it's the best thing we could have done,' says Clive. 'Ben loves school, speaks fluent Spanish, sees us all the time, plays on the beach; I don't think a child could want for much more. We see more of each other and get on really well. Before we were tired after work and didn't really speak to each other, we'd just watch TV. Now we don't even own one.'

Alex agrees: 'We very nearly split up [when we were in England]. Now, we see each other nearly 24 hours a day and are stronger than ever. It's amazing what you will do for love but I know Clive had the best plan for us and it's working out for us now. It's a hard slog but definitely worth it in the end.'

The couple appeared on Channel Four's No Going Back earlier this year and received over 400 emails from viewers thanking them for their inspiration.

Factfile
Canary Sail SL (01438 880 890; www.canarysail.com) offers six-day courses, from total beginners to Yacht Master level, for around £515pp, including accommodation on the boat, breakfast and lunch. The company also charters boats and Alex organises dry-land accommodation through www.gomeratravel.com