LYMINGTON sailor Ian Williams’ bid for a record fifth World Match Racing title is still on despite not qualifying for the final of the latest stage.

Williams has retained his six-point lead over nearest rival Taylor Canfield following the penultimate stage of this year’s Series.

His GAC Pindar team finished fourth in the Argo Group World Cup in Bermuda, but still holds the advantage as Canfield could only skipper his US One crew to third place.

With only the best three of the six stage results so far contributing to the final scores, the latest event was effectively a dead rubber for each team.

Next month’s finale in Malaysia has to go towards the final standings, so defending champion Canfield will have to finish two places above Williams at the Monsoon Cup if he is to prevent his rival from winning a record fifth title.

The Argo Group World Cup was won by Swede Johnie Berntsson, who beat Swiss Eric Monnin in the final. They are now ninth and eighth respectively in the overall standings.