Intro:

Lead skipper Francois Gabart crosses the equator while Jean Le Cam continues to hold off the challenge of Mike Golding in the Vendee Globe on Tuesday (15th January).

Script:

The Vendee Globe round the world race continued on Tuesday (15th January).

Lead skipper Francois Gabart maintained his stranglehold on the race, crossing the equator on his Macif boat earlier in the day.

Armel Le Cleac'h onboard Banque Populaire remains his closest rival, but was unable to make any significant progress.

Dominique Wavre on Mirabaud lies in eighth place but within 100 nautical miles of seventh placed Janier Sanso on Acciona.

Alex Thompson on Hugo Boss enjoyed a good day on the water.

He lies in fourth place but was unable to make up any ground on third placed Jean Pierre Dick, whose position allows him to sail a faster course.