Williams & Team Pindar 2nd in ISAF Match Race Rank

by Kate Fairclough - Pitch PR on 7 Dec 2006
British match racing sensation Ian Williams of ‘Team Pindar’ today climbs into second place in the ISAF Match Race Rankings, equalling the highest ever open ranking for any British sailor.

Having achieved two top four results at recent World Match Racing Tour events in San Francisco and Malaysia, Williams has leap-frogged Paolo Cian (ITA) and Peter Gilmour (AUS) making him one of Britain’s most successful ever match racing helms.

Williams, 29, recently signed a fourteen month sponsorship deal with print and electronic media company Pindar.

Today’s ranking release enables Williams, based in Southampton, to end the year on a real high. Currently leading the World Match Racing Tour, Williams won his first ever World Match Race Tour event in Bermuda in October of this year.

No Briton has ever been ranked higher on the open ISAF ladder, or ever led the World Match Racing Tour before. Chris Law is the only other British male to have previously ranked second on the open ISAF ladder, in 1998.

ISAF World Match Race Rankings rate skippers based on their performances over the last two years, during which period Williams, formerly a solicitor in London, began to sail professionally. World Match Racing Tour events carry the most points towards the ISAF rankings, while other independent events carry points dependant on their grading. Williams’ recent fourth place at the Allianz Cup Presented by Oracle and third place at the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia, in addition to a win in Bermuda have significantly raised his overall ranking this year.

The next ISAF Match Race Rankings are due to be released on 1 February 2007, following the Auckland Match Race, at which Ian will compete. The World Match Racing Tour now takes a break until May, when it kicks off again with Match Race Germany. Next year’s Monsoon Cup will be the final event of the 2006-2007 season, where the World Champion will be crowned. Over the winter months Team Pindar will also compete in the UK based JP Morgan Match Racing Series, held at Queen Mary SC, London.

Ian Williams commented:

'I am thrilled to move into second place in today’s ISAF World Match Race Rankings, and am really proud of the results we have achieved as part of Team Pindar. Having beaten Cian and Gilmour in Malaysia we have managed to forge ahead, but the points are really close as we go into 2007. My ultimate dream is to win the World Match Racing Tour and we are currently well placed, although still less than half way through the Tour. With perseverance and good teamwork next year and continued support from our sponsor Pindar, I believe we have every chance of success.

Andrew Pindar, Chairman of the Pindar Group commented:

'Today’s ISAF Match Race Rankings release is a great accomplishment for Ian and Team Pindar, and really shows how progressive they are. Ian and his crew are incredibly talented sailors and deserve to be recognised as being within the top flight of British sailing.'

About the ISAF World Match Race Rankings:

The ISAF World Match Race Rankings rate skippers based on their performances over the last two years. Skippers score points by competing in ISAF Graded events. The top 20 at all ISAF Graded events score Rankings points, with the highest points awarded to the event winner and then decreasing down relative to position. The most points are up for grabs at World Championship events, followed by ISAF Grade 1 events, Grade 2 etc.

In addition to this bonus points can be scored for success in events featuring particularly competitive fields which host the top ranked skippers on the ISAF World Match Race Rankings.

The points scored at events counts towards a skipper’s Ranking points total which decides his Ranking position. Each skipper can count a maximum of four events in each of the two most recent years, i.e. a combined total of eight events, which are calculated over a rolling 24 months. Events contested within 12 months of the current Ranking release count double. The winner of an ISAF Grade 1 event can expect to score around 1,800 points if the event took place within the last 12 months, or around 1,000 if between 12-24 months ago.

As well as reflecting the current form and performances of the world’s top match racers, the ISAF World Match Race Rankings are also used to decide ten of the twelve skippers who will compete in the World Championship

Event website: http://www.sailing.org/matchrace

For more information, please visit: www.pindar.com and www.williamssailracing.com