Ian Williams is Team GAC Pindar’s Extreme 40 skipper and twice previous ISAF World Match Racing Champion. In 2007, he entered the history books by becoming the first ever British sailor to win the World Match Racing Championship, which he successfully defended a year later.

Born in Exeter in 1977, Ian grew up in sight of the sea in Exmouth. Aged just six weeks old he undertook his first Channel crossing with his parents and has been sailing ever since. He first started racing at the age of nine in the International Cadet Class and in 1994 ventured into match racing, winning the World and UK Youth Match Racing Championships. Success continued as the young sailor won both events again before becoming Senior National Champion in 1997 at the age of only 19.

Since then Ian has steadily climbed the match racing ranks, winning his first international event in November 1999 in Portugal. In 2001 Ian triumphed in the Grade 2 British Open Championships and added a second senior UK Match Racing championships victory. In 2003, he made his first appearance at the Match Racing World Championships, finishing 11th. 

Alongside his sailing success Ian has also pursued a successful career in Law. He graduated from the University of Bristol with a joint honours degree in Chemistry and Law in 1999 before training with Ashurst, a leading corporate law firm, in 2001. Having qualified as a solicitor in 2003, he took a six-month sabbatical from his day job in May 2005 to concentrate on match racing.

It was during this time that the solicitor won two Grade 1 events and broke into the top five of the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) World Match Racing rankings (he had been in the top ten since May 2003). It was then that Ian decided to pursue his dreams and take up sailing full time.

Turning pro, the Englishman became the first Briton to gain a medal on the World Match Racing Tour (05/06 season), finishing his first full season in second place. Then, in October 2006, he signed up with leading print and electronic media company, Pindar and embarked on a full time training schedule. In 2007 and 2008, competing for Team Pindar, Ian secured consecutive World Titles.

In May 2010, Team Pindar joined forces with Dubai based global logistics partner to form Team GAC Pindar. In 2011 Ian will skipper for Team GAC Pindar’s entry both on the WMRT and the Extreme Sailing Series.

Since taking up sailing full time, Ian has also established himself as a respected tactician on the professional circuit.  Regatta wins have come in multiple classes including TP52s, Swan 45s, Swan 42s, Farr 40s and SB3s. Alongside his busy racing schedule, he has also turned his hand to coaching. 

Ian lives in Lymington with his wife Shareen. In 2010 he finished fifth on the WMRT including two second place finishes in both the Korea Match Cup and St. Moritz Match Race.  

For more information, please visit: 

www.teamgacpindar.com