IAN Williams may have his second defeat in a row at the hands of arch rival Taylor Canfield at the latest stage of the World Match Racing Tour, but it was not all doom and gloom for the Hampshire sailor after he extended his overall lead.

Williams, from Lymington, came off second best in a thrilling finale to the Dutch Match Cup after losing two races on the trot to Virgin Islander Canfield.

It is the second event in a row that Williams’ Team GAC Pindar crew has been beaten by Canfield’s US One side in the final.

But Williams was remaining positive about the result – because it boosts him further in front of his rivals on the tour leaderboard with just a few events left.

“Of course we’re disappointed not to have won,” he said, “but we’re pleased to have made this the sixth final in a row that we’ve reached on the Tour, stretching back to the Monsoon Cup last year.

“Congratulations to Taylor and US One, they sailed extremely well, and we look forward to the next one.”

The ‘next one’ is the Bermuda Match Cup which takes place in late October.