Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

World Match Racing Tour crown targetted by Ian Williams

by Jo Gawith on 28 Jan 2011
Ian Williams - Team GAC Pindar - World Match Racing Tour Subzero Images /AWMRT http://wmrt.com
World Match Racing wice previous champion Team GAC Pindar’s skipper, Ian Williams has his sights set on winning a third world crown, following confirmation of his 2011 World Match Racing Tour Card, by race organisers this week.

Williams joins 8 other Tour card holders, who receive guaranteed entry to at least six of the Tour’s nine events, which get under way with Match Race France in May and conclude with the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia in November. This year’s Tour sees a record prize fund of USD 1.75m - the richest in world sailing.

In 2007, Williams entered the history books by becoming the first ever British sailor to win the World Match Racing Championship – a feat that he went onto repeat a year later. 2011 is set to be an eventful year for Williams who will also skipper Team GAC Pindar’s entry in the Extreme Sailing Series and race on the RC44 circuit.

Commenting on the news, Williams said, 'We’re delighted. We’ll be going all out to win that third title but know it won’t be easy as the standard on Tour gets harder every year. We’ve a very busy year ahead – the Extreme Sailing Series will be an exciting new challenge, but it’s on the Tour where I feel at home. It is a pure test of sailing skill, pitting the best sailors on the same boats. To win it, you have to be the best.'

The 2011 Tour promises to be as competitive as ever, featuring some of the best match racers in the world, including four-time World Champion Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing, 2003 Tour Champion, Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team, two-time runner up Mathieu Richard (French Match Racing) and team mate, Damien Iehl who will undertake his first full season. Fellow British skipper and 2010 World Champion Ben Ainslie, will not be defending his title, opting instead to focus on his Olympic 2012 goals in the Finn class.

Williams will also be keeping a watchful eye on 24-year old Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, who finished second in 2009 and third in 2010. Like Williams, Mirsky will also making his debut on the Extreme Sailing Series, as skipper for Oman Sail.

Williams has competed on the World Match Racing Tour for the last six years. Last year he finished in fifth place following a consistent season which included four round-robin wins and second place finishes in both the Korea Match Cup and St. Mortiz Match Race.

'We sailed really well on the Tour last year, especially in the round-robin stages but struggled to convert that into points during the knock-out stages. We’re hoping that regular competitive racing across all three sailing series, will help to create a winning momentum.'



www.wmrt.com

Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERMaritimo M75Excess Catamarans

Related Articles

Torque Quick-Release Harness Back in stock
Quick to release, quick to sell out Make the shift to the torque quick-release trapeze harness.
Posted today at 6:12 am
Palm Beach Motor Yachts partner with CYCA
Help power the next generation of offshore sailors Legendary Rolex Sydney Hobart skipper Mark Richards and the company he founded on Sydney's Northern Beaches in 1995, Palm Beach Motor Yachts, have joined forces with the CYCA to help power the next generation of offshore sailors.
Posted today at 2:54 am
Get your entries in for the Gold Coast Mackay Race
This weekend marks 150 days till the big dance north This weekend marks 150 days till the big dance north! Entrants who compete in both the Gold Coast Mackay and Hamilton Island Race Week will save heaps.
Posted on 27 Feb
Introducing the INS300
Zhik's new inshore jacket The INS300 is Zhik's new inshore jacket. Engineered with 2-layer construction, water-resistant zippers throughout, and micro-fleece lined torso for warmth and comfort.
Posted on 27 Feb
Over 700 teams set for Trofeo Princesa Sofía
The trickle of registrations has not stopped with a month to go The level of registrations received so far for the 55th Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels points to another massive edition. More than 700 teams from 56 countries have already registered to compete in the first scoring event.
Posted on 27 Feb
Optiorange 2026 in Valencia day 2
Qualifying round closed out and the Gold Group is now set The Optiorange completed its second day, finishing the necessary races to close the qualifying round and move on to the final series, which will be held this Saturday and Sunday.
Posted on 27 Feb
Leopard 3 IRC overall RORC Caribbean 600 winner
No remaining competitor able to better her corrected time The Royal Ocean Racing Club is delighted to confirm that the Farr 100 Leopard 3 has been declared the overall winner under IRC for the 2026 RORC Caribbean 600.
Posted on 27 Feb
2026 RORC Caribbean 600 - IRC Two Report
Richard Dilley's Grand Soleil 46 Belladonna claims IRC Two victory The largest class in the 2026 RORC Caribbean 600 was IRC Two and it proved to be a battle of stamina and steady execution with as much as five days and nights of trade wind racing for the class and highly competitive pressure among the front runners.
Posted on 27 Feb
Inside North Advanced Materials
Where Innovation Begins Step inside the world of advanced materials at North Sails. From chemical structures to full-scale testing, our team is pushing material science further than ever.
Posted on 27 Feb
2026 Finn World Masters in Brisbane overall
Brendan Casey becomes first Australian to win Finn World Masters Brendan Casey, from Australia, has become the first Australian ever to win the Finn World Masters. Two more races were sailed Friday at the Porsche Centre Brisbane 2026 Finn World Masters at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, in Brisbane, Australia.
Posted on 27 Feb