Williams wins second consecutive world title

With a day to spare, Ian Williams secured his second consecutive ISAF world match racing championship in Malaysia yesterday.

Williams still has to win one more race today against his semi-final opponent, Adam Minoprio of New Zealand (he leads 2-0), to make it into the final of the Monsoon Cup, but he can thank what could be his opponent from the other semi-final, Peter Gilmour.

The Australian caught his quarter-final opponent Sebastien Col in a rules trap, which resulted in the Frenchman being disqualified. Col was the only man left who could have denied Williams the title.

"Winning the title means a great deal," said Williams. "It is the culmination of a lot of hard work throughout the season." Giving the go-ahead for a tilt at a hat-trick of world titles, sponsor Andrew Pindar said: "We look forward to watching him defend his crown again on behalf of Bahrain Team Pindar next season."

The ding-dong at the top of the Vendee Globe solo round the world race sounded dong again for Sebastien Josse in BT as he went back into the lead by 30 miles over Yann Elies in Generali.

Having grabbed back the lead for the 20th change in the 28 days so far, Loick Peyron slipped on the 21st to 50 miles astern in third. Mike Golding's Ecover remains eighth, still in touch 90 miles behind Josse with Brian Thompson 13th Bahrain Team Pindar, Sam Davies 14th in Roxy, Dee Caffari 16th in Aviva, Steve White 18th in Toe in the Water (Spirit of Weymouth) and Jonny Malbon 19th in Artemis.