Ian Williams (sailor)
Ian Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 April 1977 (age 49) Exeter, England |
| Occupation | Sailor / Lawyer |
Ian Williams (born 26 April 1977) is a world class sailor with many credits to his name,[1] including nine-time World Match Racing Champion.[2]
Biography
Ian Williams was born on 26 April 1977 in Exeter, United Kingdom.[3] He sailed with his parents from a very young age (six weeks old).[3] He started sailing competitively in the International Cadet class while still at school. He studied at the University of Bristol, gaining a BSc degree in Chemistry and Law. He later qualified as a solicitor with Ashurst LLP, and continued working there until 2005.[4]
Sailing Career
Williams's first significant competition was the 1988 UK International Cadet national championship.[3]
Williams specialises in match racing, competing in the World Match Racing Tour. In 2008 following winning the tour and therefore the World Championship title he was shortlisted by the International Sailing Federation for the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards.[5][6] This achievement was remarkable as Williams was up against a number of full-time professional America's Cup teams.
His record in the World Match Racing Tour has led to him being described in glowing terms by sailing commentators. One has written:
I like Ian’s style. So good is he at the tricky, whippet-fast, dizzying discipline of match-racing that he is developing the air of being unbeatable... It’s like watching Schumacher in his prime or Ronnie O’Sullivan on the baize, Williams is just relentlessly good and never knows when he’s beat. It’s talent of the highest order and a pleasure to witness as he just goes about his business with a humility that makes him always one of the hottest properties in sailing.[7]
Williams is featured on the International mainstream sports talk broadcast network as a sailing celebrity on Sports Byline on Sail Sport Talk with Karen Lile (co-host Rick Tittle) [8]
References
- ↑ "Career highlights". Williams Sail Racing. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019.
- ↑ "Hall of Fame". World Match Racing Tour. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 "ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards: Ian Williams (GBR)". World Sailor. ISAF. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012.
- ↑ "Bio". Williams Sail Racing. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015.
- ↑ ISAF World Sailor Awards Profile
- ↑ "Nominees for 2008 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards Announced". WorldSailing. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ Wheatley, Magnus (16 January 2025). "Seriously Good – Is Ian Williams Unbeatable?". World Match Racing Tour. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ World Champion Isn Williams Reports from the 70th Gold Cup in Bermuda on Sail sport Talk