Ian Williams completed an impressive comeback to seal a third place finish as he began his defence of the World Match Racing Tour at the Congressional Cup in the USA.

The Lymington-based sailor, a five-time world match racing champion, found himself and his GAC Pindar team behind the leaders after qualifying at the event off the coast of Long Beach, California.

Following their failure to reach the top six and automatically move through to the quarter-finals, Williams was able dominate the repechage (second chance round) and restore some pride.

The two-time Congressional Cup winner battled through, winning eight races in a row, to give him every chance of retaking the crown as he progressed to the quarter-finals.

Williams then saw off interest from Australian Keith Swinton to move through the final four, where New Zealander Phil Robertson stood between him and a place in the final.

Swinton later admitted that, “Ian (Williams) gave us a bit of a schooling” after a 3-0 victory to the Hampshire racer.

However, the semi-final was far less straightforward, as Robertson took a 2-0 lead before Williams bounced-back to make it 2-2.

In the final race of an intense encounter, the Kiwi pulled off the decisive win, meaning Williams would have to make do with either fourth or third.

It came down to a third place final against Swedish sailor Bjorn Hansen.

Williams defeated Hansen 2-1, who was competing in his first Congressional Cup, to complete an eye-catching turnaround after a disappointing start.

“Third for @GACPindar at @LBYCConCup,” Williams wrote later on his official Twitter. “Not what we were after but gives us 2 of each colour medal in 6 attempts. Not a bad record.”

Taylor Canfield took the title after beating Robertson in the final.

The result puts Williams in fourth place in the tour rankings, with Ficker Cup winner Chris Steele leading.