HAMPSHIRE sailor Alex Thomson has strengthened his lead in the Vendee Globe race.

As of this morning, he was 65 nautical miles ahead of second placed Armel l’Cleac’h.

The Vendée Globe is a non-stop unassisted, race around the world and Thomson, from Gosport, is aiming to improve on his third place in the last event, in 2012/13.

Competing in his fourth Vendee, he wants to be the first non-Frenchman to win the Vendee - which started back in the late 1980s.

Thomson had started the current race well, but a tactical error cost him dearly and plunged him down to ninth.

As the fleet of Oceanmasters began to head towards the island of Madeira, Thomson made the decision to stay with the pack and leave Madeira to the east.

He channelled his frustration, foregoing sleep and focusing on speed. As a result, he found himself back up to seventh.

HUGO BOSS continued to pick up pace as Thomson steered her towards the Canary Islands.

Throughout the weekend he climbed through the fleet of IMOCA 60’s before deciding to pass through the islands, leaving Cape Verde to the west.

This saw him carve out a lead of almost 100 miles, and since then he has eased his way through the potentially rough Doldrums.

"It's been a fantastic day," he said. "That is the easiest Doldrums crossing I have ever had.

"Normally the rich get richer at this stage. As I get further south I'll get more wind and the wind will get more left which means I can ease the sails and go faster.

"That's the normal trend and looking at the forecast that should happen."

Thomson is approaching the Equator on the ninth day of the race.

He could well break the current record to the Equator which was set by Jean Le Cam in 2004 when he reached it in 10 days 11 hours.

Once crossing the Equator, Thomson will head for the next mark in the race - the point where HUGO BOSS will turn left as he rounds the most southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope.