Ian Williams won his first World Match Racing Tour event in three years sailing to victory at the Portimão Portugal Match Cup. The last time Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar tasted victory was at the Danish Open back in 2008, the same year that he was crowned World Champion for the second consecutive year.

Williams’ victory over Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing in Portugal means there has been a different winner in each of the four completed stages of the 2011 Tour which is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested seasons in recent years.

Williams took down current Tour leader Bruni with two back-to-back wins in a wet and wild Final. The win shoots Team GAC Pindar up the World Match Racing Tour standings from tenth to third place, which at the halfway stage of the Tour is a huge boost for the 2007 and 2008 World Champion.

“To win here is a fantastic feeling,” Williams said. “We struggled a bit with some matches and we had some really close calls so to walk away with a win is amazing. Although we have come close to winning events in recent years it has been a few years since we won an event so it’s great to have another one under our belt. It’s a great result for us – now we need a few more.”

Results from 2011 Portimão Portugal Match Cup:

1 Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar
2 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing
3 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
4 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
5 Torvar Mirsky (AUS)The Wave Muscat
6 Jesper Radich (DEN) Adrian Lee & Partners
7 Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
8 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team
9 Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team
10 Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth Sailing Team
11 Reuben Corbett (NZL) Aon Racing Team
12 Olli-Pekka Lumijarvi (FIN) Siragusawa Sailing Team

2011 ISAF World Match Racing Tour Standings (after 4 stages):

1 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing – 81pts
2 Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing – 58pts
3 Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar – 46pts
4 Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team – 45pts
5 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) The Wave Muscat – 45pts
6 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team – 43pts
7 Jesper Radich (DEN) Adrian Lee & Partners – 40pts
8 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team – 35pts
9 Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing – 31pts
10 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team – 30pts

Tags on NauticNews: WMRT – Match Racing

Photo Credit: Chris Davies/WMRT

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