The Inventure has been specially adapted

Mr Jones said: "I lived and breathed it for such a long time - it was the focus of everything I was doing.

"It has been a bit difficult to come to terms with the idea of not doing it.

"All I can do is try and get well and see how we go from there."

Last year he completed his 2,500-mile, three and a half month round Britain voyage in Inventure, accompanied by disabled sailors and able-bodied carers.

Training vessel

The "great success" of the voyage, in which four other sailors in wheelchairs took part, proved that the concept of long distance voyages was possible, he said.

Mr Jones, disabled since he broke his neck during trials for the Royal Navy skiing team shortly after rescuing Sir Richard in 1988, said he hoped to get back on board Inventure at some stage in the future.

The revolutionary 60ft craft, which can be controlled by voice commands, is set to become the only training vessel of its type in the world for other wheelchair-bound mariners.

Mr Jones plans to use the vessel as a sailing facility for other severely disabled water lovers.