British match racer 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 helmsmen.

Williams, 29, recently signed a 14-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 see previous news story here . 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.