Reigning World Match Racing Tour champion Ian Williams won the Royal Southern Match Cup with his GAC Pindar crew on home Solent waters – despite facing testing competition.

The five-time champion and record breaking match race winner, based in Lymington, only lost two flights in the regatta, after storming through qualifying to face fellow Briton Mark Lees in the semi-final.

The lesser experienced Briton put up a fine battle considering his ranking (23rd in the world) to take an unlikely 1-0 lead.

However, Williams and his crew responded valiantly to win 3-2 and secure a place in the final against Matt Jerwood.

In the final, Williams and his crew used their experience to win 2-0 and claim the Royal Southern Match Cup for the second year in succession and climb to third in the World Match Racing Tour overall standings.

Williams said: “It was fantastic to compete on British waters.

“I was particularly pleased to see us come through a tough semi-final 3-2 when the pressure was really on.

“The win moves us up the World Match Racing Tour leader board and it’s a good confidence boost ahead of the Stena Match Cup in Sweden in two weeks’ time.”

GAC Pindar Team Principal Andrew Pindar added: “Ian’s decision last year to compete in more match race events outside of the main tour proved a particularly sound move.

“It reinforced what it take to be at the pinnacle of this discipline and propelled him to his world record breaking fifth title.”

The World Match Racing Tour continues at the Stena Match Cup in Marstrand, Sweden.