The 74-year-old, now of Woolton, lived as a child near Tel Aviv's beach and harbour. It was his love of the sea, which led him to join Israel's merchant navy and work for Zim, the world's 12th largest shipping company.

He met his Liverpudlian wife Anne when his ship was docked in Liverpool in 1955 after bringing a cargo of Jaffa oranges.

He recalled: "In those days it was a big occasion for the Jewish community when an Israeli ship docked in Liverpool. Nowadays, nobody bothers any more. Then the community put on events where the crew could meet with local youngsters."

Yacov and Anne met at a dance at Zion House and the rest is history. After falling in love at first sight, he said, Anne 'shlepped' after Yacov, becoming a passenger on his ship sailing from London to Israel, which she had not yet visited. They were married within six months, spending the first 10 years of their marriage on the ocean waves.

Yacov took advantage of his status as junior officer to ensure that the two could remain together at sea.

He explained: "Only officers were allowed to be accompanied by their wives. But I was a junior officer and was only allowed one trip a year for Anne.

"However, there was then a shortage of officers as the Israeli fleet was rapidly expanding and they could not train enough new ones. They were even drying out foreign officers.

"I could therefore choose which ship I wanted and went to ones desperate for officers and dictated my terms of bringing my wife."

However, after 10 years sailing around the world, the novelty began to wear off. Anne was pregnant and after four years as a captain Yacov was looking for fresh pastures.

He said: "Engineering had always been my second interest. But I did not have the entrance requirements for Haifa Technion, which had Israel's only engineering course.

Liverpool University, where there was a one-year A level pre-graduate course, was Yacov's "natural choice", particularly as the couple began married life on dry land at the home of Anne's parents.

Yacov loved England for its "civilised politeness". After graduating, he worked for 22 years as a Shell researcher at Ellesmere Port before entering his third career as a freelance computer programmer, during which time he voluntarily looked after Shifrin House's computer system.

A keen swimmer, who insists on swimming in natural water, Yacov soon found that access was often denied to swimmers in lakes and rivers.

He explained: "I could not swim in the sea near Liverpool because you have to walk a mile before it is deep enough. The nearest decent place for swimming is Llandudno.

"I found Hatchmere, a beautiful lake near Delamere. But in 2000 the new owner turned it into an exclusive fishing lake.

"I formed Friends of Hatchmere. We made a lot of noise and won swimmers' rights on the lake."

Fresh from victory Yacov went on to co-found the River and Lake Swimming Association of which he is secretary.

The association, whose members belong to swimming clubs at Britain's largest lakes including the Serpentine and Hampstead Heath, has fought for swimmers' rights with the Health and Safety Commission and the Environment Agency, winning High Court rulings.

Yacov said: "I won't take credit for everything, but I have been instrumental in giving swimmers a voice. This has led to the creation of several websites and forums and even the publication of three books on the subject."

Now fully retired, except for helping out in maintenance at wife Anne's Dafa Cheese Cake Factory, Yacov is determined to "relax and enjoy life".

He does this by regularly cycling the 45-mile round trip to his favourite Hatchmere where he swims.