well not so for british yachtsman alex thomson who continues to lead the vendee globe, as he aims toon—frenchman to win the event solo round the world race. he was the first of the 32—strong fleet to cross the equator into the southern hemisphere on wednesday. in what has been a gruelling start to the race. he spoke to us earlier with an update on his progress, he said he actually used a tropical storm to enhance his positioning in the race. the biggest challenge of the race so far has definitely been tropical storm, very unusual situation and i decided to stay close to the middle of it again a very good position from the first place and definitely the biggestjohn so far and it feels fantastic to be leading the race and when you are in front, you can dictate the pace and take some time i relax a little bit if you want to and not feel the pressure of always having to make sure you are close to the person. and following behind. he never feels good when some of the competition falls or to damage and asa high competition falls or to damage and as a high attrition rate, many people who sa

britain's alex thomson leads the way in the vendee globe yacht race — one of the toughest endurance racespers left france last sunday, and thomson holds a narrow lead over frenchmanjean le cam as they race southwards across the atlantic ocean across the atlantic ocean. finally, mary phillip was the first black woman to captain england, won 65 caps and also lifted a european title with arsenal. she's now achieving great success in the men's game as manager of peckham town having led the kentish side to their first senior trophy. she's been speaking tojo currie. most of the time i turn to the games, they will look straight at arbor chairman or our first aid games, they will look straight at arbor chairman or ourfirst aid and goat manager? and they will go know the manager is back there. it was not until he started doing the warm—up and stepping back that we catch them in camp saying, she can do this and i am like... she certainly can. mary philp has achieved sexes in football most can dream upa achieved sexes in football most can dream up a sub —— achieved successes in football... she went

theyjoin race veteran alex thomson in his fifth solo race. he was second last time.ned one of the boats off the coast of dorset. this is most people's idea of howl. small, cramped, dark space, at the mercy of monstrous waves, learn miles from home, for months on end. when things go wrong, you risk everything just to survive. this is what lies ahead than sailors in vendee globe. but as terrifying as this seems, it is a lifelong dream for those who have spent decades trying to get this chance to follow in the wake of dame ella macarthur who still holds the winnings vendee globe record from 20 years ago. we are going on board to meet one of those who could break ella macarthur‘s long—standing record, pip hare. we are coming on board! pip hare. we are coming on board! pip is part of a new dawn for female sailors. the first time ever there will be more british women in the race than men. only 87 people in the whole world have ever finished it and only six of those were women so more men have walked on the moon than women have finished the vendee globe race so to be a brit