HAMPSHIRE yachtsmen Mike Golding and Alex Thomson were are challenging for a place in the top five after the opening 24 hours of a solo round the world yacht race.

Gosport's Thomson was in seventh position on Hugo Boss in the 19-strong Vendée Globe fleet while Golding, from Warsash, was five miles behind in eighth on Gamesa.

Both skippers were about 30 miles behind the early leader, Francois Gabart of France.

Hamble’s Sam Davies, the only woman competing in the 2012/13 event, was placed 15th, trailing Gabart by around 50 miles.