Ian Williams takes lead in Almeria grand prix

Double world match race champion Ian Williams is leading the Almeria grand prix, eighth on the Extreme Sailing Series 2011 calendar, at the half way point in Almeria, Spain.

Williams, who has been playing catch up in the 40-foot catamaran, played the light winds in Team GAC Pindar to dislodge the day two leader Ben Ainslie in The Wave Muscat. But he knows that a two-point advantage over Tanguy Cariou in Alinghi is, to say the least, fragile.

“It was a really good day for us and we finished in the top half in every race today,” said Williams. “For sure we will be fighting to retain the lead and, looking at the points, the second half is like a restart to the regatta. It is very tight and will be going down to the wire.”