06.07.2010
Williams wins Battle of the Brits
Day 1 - Stena Match Cup Sweden
Ian Williams (Team GAC Pindar) got off to a strong start at the Stena Match Cup Sweden today, winning all four of his races, including victory over fellow British skipper and three-time gold medallist, Ben Ainslie (TEAMORIGIN).
Sweden’s biggest sailing event marks the halfway stage of this year’s World Match Racing Tour and is taking place at the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club on the stunning island of Marstrand. The morning’s racing got underway in near perfect conditions with a steady 10-15 knot breeze, clear blue skies and a total of 16 crews, battling it out in the round-robin stages on identical DS 37 boats.
Williams faced local sailor Johnnie Berntsson (Berntsson Sailing Team) in his first race and despite trailing after the last mark, worked hard to catch him, in a tight finish across the line. Race two and four saw convincing wins against Torvar Mirsky (Mirsky Racing Team) and reigning Stena Match Cup Sweden champion, Peter Gilmour (YANMAR Racing).
The race of the day, however, saw Williams face Ben Ainslie in an all British showdown, with Ainslie taking an early lead followed by some strong tactical tacking up the first beat. Williams responded well and closed the gap considerably down the run, before forcing Ainslie into a difficult manoeuvre around the bottom mark, which resulted in a wrapped spinnaker around the bow. This offered Williams the chance he needed to pass and win by a comfortable distance.
Williams commented: “It’s a great start to the week - we faced a tough line-up this morning so are delighted to win all four races. It’s a new team so we are improving race by race. We are looking forward to more competitive racing tomorrow.”
The team was joined today by a special guest - Lars Säfverström, Group President of global shipping logistics company and partner to the team, GAC, who joined the crew on board for the first race. Speaking after his exhilarating guest ride, he commented: “This is my first visit to the Stena Match Cup Sweden and I am enjoying it immensely. The race conditions could not have been better and it was fantastic to experience Ian’s cool management and the impressive teamwork from such an exciting vantage point. I am looking forward to following the action for the reindexder of the week.”
Williams now needs to secure just one more win, from his three reindexing round-robin matches, to confirm a place in the quarter-finals on Friday.
To follow all the action from the Stena Match Cup Sweden, please visit, www.wmrt.org or www.matchcupsweden.com
Team GAC Pindar crew
Ian Williams (skipper) Matt Cassidy, Mark Nicholls, Malcolm Parker, Richard Sydenham
-ends-
For more information about Team GAC Pindar, please visit: www.teampindar.com
About Team GAC Pindar
Team GAC Pindar is a unique partnership between independent sailing company Team Pindar and global shipping, logistics and marine services provider GAC Group.
Team Pindar is one of the world’s leading independent sailing teams. Since the company’s first ever sports sponsorship of The North Sea Yacht Race in 1980, Pindar has become one of the most established names in sailing. Best known for its sponsorship of Emma Sanderson (née Richards) in the 2002-03 Around Alone Race, Pindar has supported sailing campaigns across every level, ranging from grass roots and local community projects through to match racing and global offshore events at the very pinnacle of the sport.
Team GAC Pindar is currently competing in the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series Europe, skippered by Nick Moloney and the ISAF World Match Racing Tour, skippered by twice previous Double ISAF World Match Racing Champion, Ian Williams.
www.gac.com
www.teampindar.com
About the World Match Racing Tour
The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is the leading professional sailing series featuring 10 World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with “Special Event” status.
The World Tour awards over US$1.5million in prize money with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the “ISAF Match Racing World Champion”. In addition, an incentive to compete in the world’s premier sailing series just got bigger. A US$250,000 overall prize pool for the top nine teams with a $50,000 bonus for the outright winner of next year’s World Match Racing Tour is now on offer.
Events utilise the same “match race” format used in the America’s Cup with racing taking place in identically supplied racing yachts which places a focuses on team work and skill. Racing takes place close to the shore for the general public to follow the races as virtual on-the-water stadiums.
For more information on the World Match Racing Tour, please visit: www.wmrt.org
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