Team GAC Pindar’s Ian Williams happy to win ISAF Match Racing World Championship
Team GAC Pindar, skippered by Great Britain’s Ian Williams, put up a superb show at Kuala Terengganu, in Malaysia against Berntsson Sailing Team, led by Johnie Berntsson, to win the 2011 Monsoon Cup. After ousting Berntsson, 3-1, at the 2011 Monsoon Cup,
Williams secured the third ISAF Match Racing World Champion crown of his career.
Williams first won both Monsoon Cup and ISAF Match Racing World Championship together in 2007, and after the double win this year, he has become the second Brit after Ben Ainslie to claim both titles twice. Williams is quite excited about his victory and
appreciated his team for their superb performance throughout the championship.
Speaking to the media after his victory, Williams said, “This really tops off a terrific season! We couldn’t let our emotion run too high yesterday because we were so focused on winning today. We came here to win and to take the World Championship yesterday
and then this today, it’s just superb.”
The British skipper added, “The team has done so well, we are a new team who have come together and just got stronger and stronger all year. We won all three regattas on five man boats so I think that just shows the strength of the team.”
Team GAC Pindar was the favourite to lift the title in the final competition as compared to Berntsson Sailing Team. The odds were 78:22, in favour of the British sailing team, before the sail commenced on Kuala Terengganu waters.
Williams grabbed early lead with a 2-0 score line after an easy finish in both races. Berntsson bounced back in third race to move up at 2-1, but could not continue his pace, as the British team clinched the fourth race to claim the title at 3-1.
Final standings at the conclusion of 2011 Monsoon Cup standings:
1. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar
2. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
3. Jesper Radich (DEN) Adrian Lee & Partners
4. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
5. Will Tiller (NZL) Full Metal Jacket Racing
6. Phil Robertson (NZL) Team China powered by WAKA Racing
7. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team
8. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing
9. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) The Wave Muscat
10. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
11. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team
12. Jeremy Koo (MAS) Abdullah Chan / KRT
Overall World Championship Standings are given below:
1. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar - 144 points
2. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing - 112 points
3. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team - 106.2 points
4. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) The Wave Muscat - 105.8 points
5. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing - 102.8 points
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