Team Pindar’s World Match Racing Champion, Ian Williams begins his pursuit for the Troia Portugal Match Cup tomorrow, boosted by the news that he has been nominated for the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award. Ian received his nomination for his achievements on the 2007 World Match Racing Tour and continued performance throughout 2008.

The ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award is widely regarded as the highest accolade in sailing and historically has been won by sailing greats including Sir Peter Blake, Russell Coutts and Ellen Macarthur. Alongside Williams, this year’s male nominations include Olympians Ben Ainslie and Tom Ashley, offshore sailor Francis Joyon and winner of the Rolex Farr40 World Champion title, Vincenzo Onorato.

The award recognises success on the water from 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2008. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Quinta de Jarama in Madrid, Spain on November 11.
On hearing news of his nomination, Williams commented, ‘It’s a great honour to receive a nomination for the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Award. Recognition at this level vindicates my decision three years ago to give up my job as a lawyer in the city and take on sailing full time. It also demonstrates the standing that the World Match Racing Tour has in the world of sailing.’

Williams, who is currently leading the 2008 World Match Racing Tour by 20 points, will race at the Clube Naval Setubalense in the Troia Portugal Match Cup this week. The event will see competitors race in identical SM40 boats on a challenging race course close to the shore.

With just three events of the tour remaining, Williams will want to go one better than last year’s second place at the Troia Portugal Match Race and continue the consistent performance which has seen Team Pindar reach five semi-finals out of the tour’s six events.

Chairman of the Pindar Group Andrew Pindar said, ‘We are delighted that Ian has been nominated for the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award. We at Pindar are immensely proud of Ian. To see Ian’s name alongside the best sailors in the world is testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport.’

To follow Team Pindar’s progress in Portugal, please visit:
http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com