As a fleet of 304 classics, with over 25 centenarians in their number, gathered in St. Tropez, and a dozen Extreme 40s prepare to do battle further east on the Côte d’Azur in Nice, Ian Williams wrapped up another Alpari World Match Racing event in Amsterdam with a not quite satisfying second place in the Dutch Match Cup.

For the second event in succession he was beaten to the top of the podium by Taylor Canfield of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and for the second time in eight days.

The man who denied Williams a record-breaking fifth world title last year at the Monsoon Cup finale in Malaysia had successfully defended his Chicago Match Cup the week before and came from 0-1 down in the Lelystad event to take the Dutch title by a curtailed 2-1. It still leaves Canfield with some catching up to do via the penultimate regatta in Bermuda next month. Williams’ reorganised GAC Pindar crew is working well together, but the Monsoon Cup counts double points and often decides the season’s title.

Speaking after Sunday’s final, Williams commented: “Obviously we’re disappointed not to win but we’re still satisfied to have made our sixth straight final (including the Monsoon Cup last year). We will now be between 0 and 9 points ahead of Canfield come Malaysia, depending on how results go in Bermuda.”

In Sheboygan, Lake Michigan, the Danish trio of Lotte Pedersen, Josefine Rasmussen and Malin Holmberg won the United States grand prix in the Women’s International Match racing series.

2014 leaderboard, Alpari World Match Racing Tour

Standings after stage 5 (of 7)
1 Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar 116pts
2 Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One 98
3 Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets 90
4 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing 71
5 Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX 66
6 Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing 60
7 David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour 39
8 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa 20