It might only be the second month of the year, but I already know who will get my vote when it come to deciding the Yachtsman of the Year (see Inspiring company at the Yachtsman of the Year). It surely has to be one of the sport's unsung heroes, match racer Ian Williams.

Ian Williams wins his fifth world title.

Ian Williams wins his fifth match racing world title.



Ian has just secured a fifth match racing world championship title. He took his record-breaking victory in style with a win at the season's final Alpari World Match Racing Tour series  event, the Monsoon Cup Malaysia.

I was absolutely delighted to hear of Ian's win. Having followed his career from the very early days when he was vying for an Olympic match racing spot, only to be foiled by the discipline being dropped, I'm very glad he decided to pursue his professional sailing career.

I interviewed him for a feature for clothing giant Musto at the end of last year, when he described what he saw as the biggest low of his career. "We were really set to do the 2004 Olympics; we were second at the trials in 2000, Andy Beadsworth was retiring so that put us in reasonable shape to do well. Then something that is out of your control completely really impacts your career."

Most people would not have bounced back, especially with a promising legal career beckoning. However, Ian Williams took the decision to turn professional in 2005. Just two years later he secured his first match racing world title.

Despite his obvious talent and amazing achievements, he's only managed to make the shortlist for the major annual sailing titles: twice for the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Award and twice for the boats.com-sponsored YJA Yachtsman of the Year Award. This year we don't have the Olympics or the America's Cup to get in the way, I really believe 2015 should be the year when Ian Williams gets the recognition he deserves.

 

Written by: Gael Pawson
Gael Pawson is the editor of Yachts & Yachting Magazine and the founder of Creating Waves. A keen racer, she has sailed all her life, and started writing about the subject whilst studying journalism at university. Dinghies and small keelboats are her first loves, but she has cruised and raced a huge variety of boats in locations across the world.