Ian Williams takes on Ben Ainslie and challenging conditions in a bid to retain the World Match Racing Tour title. By Kate Laven, published: 6:52PM GMT 01 Dec 2009. Williams is currently in third place overall as he enters the Monsoon Cup, the ninth and final regatta of the tour, which begins in Malaysia on Wednesday. Williams, who, like the recently arrested sailors in the Arabian Gulf, is a member of Bahrain Team Pindar, trails leader Adam Minoprio from New Zealand by 25 points. However, with extra points available for this last event, there remains a slim chance for his third world championship.
Williams will face heavy downpours and light airs on the Pulau Duyong Basin course in Kuala Terengganu, along with the return of Ainslie, who has achieved two outright victories in just three events. While Ainslie's recent performances, such as losing in the semi-finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup in Nice with Team Origin and being defeated in the final of a warm-up regatta in Perth last week, might give Williams confidence, the triple Olympic gold medallist is determined to end his year on a high note.
"We have a good chance of winning this event if we can master the conditions and sail well in the finals," said Ainslie. "Ian and his crew are in contention for the title, but it will be hard for them to make it happen."
Related thematic articles:
- Las Vegas Sands’ Hong Kong IPO Flops
- eBay loses Louis Vuitton dispute
- Sweet wheels New Marc Jacobs boutique in Tumon Bay
- French Vogue Scion Corrals Guinness, Rosen in Art Opening Night