IT is the final countdown.

Sails have been checked, rigs have been tightened and food has been stowed.

For Hampshire's six brave sailors taking on the 24,000-mile Vendée Globe race, the time is now.

With tomorrow's start looming, Mike Golding, Dee Caffari, Brian Thompson, Jonny Malbon, Alex Thomson and Sam Davies have been making final preparations for the epic adventure from the race village in Les Sables d'Olonne in France.

At 1.30pm GMT, the start gun will signal the start and 30 solo skippers will begin what is the most feared and respected race in the world.

It is a journey that will take the sailors towards the three great capes, marking the southern tips of the African continent, Australia and America in the 24,000-mile, three-month non-stop slog.

Along with Weymouth-based Steve White, the six Hampshire skippers make up a record British entry.

Mike Golding Golding, who was awarded the OBE in January for his contribution to sailing, is the most experienced British yachtsman competing in this year's race.

At 46, the Warsash man has an impressive history of elite ocean racing including the British Steel Challenge, the BT Global Challenge, the Vendee Globe and the Velux 5 Oceans race.

He is still the only Brit to have sailed singlehanded and non-stop around the world in both directions and is certainly one of the favourites.

Dee Caffari Caffari set a world's first in 2006 when she sailed singlehanded non-stop around the world against the prevailing winds and currents.

Two years on she's back aiming to become the first female to sail singlehanded non stop around the world in both directions.

The 35-year-old from Titchfield has a brand new, state-of-the-art boat and although not as experienced as some of the skippers, has potential to cause a stir on the water.

Brian Thompson Thompson may not be as well known as Mike Golding and Alex Thomson but his sailing CV speaks for itself.

The 46-year-old from Lymington has broken 25 sailing world records including the fastest round the world, non-stop record onboard late adventurer Steve Fossett's multihull Cheyenne.

His boat Pindar has also been described as the fastest boat in this year's race, making Thompson one to watch.

Jonny Malbon Another relatively unknown sailor, Malbon brings to the race a wealth of ocean racing experience borne from years working on campaigns by the likes of Ellen MacArthur and Mike Golding.

After scraping into the race with a last-minute qualifier, Malbon, from Southampton, has been pushing hard to get prepared for the start line.

But with thousands of ocean miles under his belt, the 33-year-old is more than capable of stepping up the 24,000-mile challenge.

Alex Thomson Thomson's campaign was thrown into jeopardy just three weeks before the start of the race when his yacht Hugo Boss II was holed by a French fishing boat in Les Sables d'Olonne harbour.

But after a gruelling repair job the boat has been given the all-clear and the 34-year-old from Gosport has confirmed he will be on the start line.

After coming second and setting a new 24-hour distance record in the Barcelona World Race last year, Thomson could well be the first Brit to win the Vendée Globe.

Sam Davies She's cool, she's calm, she's got a pink boat - but don't let looks deceive you.

Davies is a ruthless sailor who will stop at nothing to achieve her aims.

The 34-year-old from Hamble cut her teeth on the French singlehanded circuit and is one of the most respected up-and-coming sailors in the race.

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