1 VASCO VASCOTTO (ITA)
2 THIERRY PEPONNET (FRA)
3 JIMMY PAHUN (FRA)
4 JEAN-PIERRE DICK (FRA)
5 THIERRY BOUCHARD (FRA)
6 FLAVIO FAVINI (ITA)
7 OLIVER KRAUSS (FRA)
8 CHRISTOPHE AUGUIN (FRA)
9 ALAIN FEDENSIEU (FRA)
10 DAWN RILEY (USA)

  DAY 3 & OVERALL
  (Source: proamcup.com )
Vasco Vascotto (former tactician of Mascalzone Latino) steals victory in extremis to Thierry Péponnet (Le Défi) ; in the ranking where everything was decided during the last race, and on the water where twenty little meters parted the two boats on the finish line.

The Italian skipper, whose list of achievements is impressive - World Champion titles in IMS, Mumm 30, Farr 40, J24, etc. - came back to the Vieux-Port harbour of Marseilles with a lit up face. " I am very happy with this victory, especially since I took risks. The two races in which we had bad results are the price for it. But in a race with such a level, you have to dare gamble. " explains Vascotto with a sparkling look. He adds : " The team is the key to success. I could rely on a good team, a lucky team - and we needed to be lucky today - and a team composed of friends. It was a pure pleasure. " That is obvious.

Overall, Thierry Péponnet has to be content with the 2nd place whereas Jimmy Pahun is 3rd. Dawn Riley's last races where pretty good. She managed to tune within four races a mixed team of American girls and French boys who had been meeting for the first time on last Thursday during a three hours sailing session.

On the amateur side, Oliver Krauss (Théoule Mandelieu) is the unrivaled leader - he takes a remarkable 7th place overall, ahead of three professional teams ! - followed far behind by Eric Basset (Tri Yann) and Jean-Philippe Allilaire (In Extremis).

Final Top Ten (Skipper/pts/R1-R2-R3-R4-R5-R6-R7) :

1.   Vasco Vascotto, 18 (1-1-10-4-DSQ-1-1)
2.   Thierry Péponnet, 18 (7-4-6-2-1-3-2)
3.   Jimmy Pahun, 24 (5-7-1-3-3-11-5)
4.   Jean-Pierre Dick, 32 (2-6-2-12-7-8-7)
5.   Thierry Bouchard, 32 (9-3-3-6-2-DSQ-9)
6.   Flavio Favini, 40 (13-2-12-1-5-7-13)
7.   Oliver Krauss, 41 (3-9-8-7-8-9-6)
8.   Christophe Auguin, 42 (6-8-16-10-11-4-3)
9.   Alain Fédensieu, 42 (11-5-4-5-13-5-12)
10. Dawn Riley, 46 (14-12-11-13-4-2-4)
 
  DAY 2
  (Source: proamcup.com )
Thierry Péponnet (Le Défi Français) is the one who seems to play his music at best. He was 5th overall yesterday, and he is firmly settled on the ranking top tonight after having reached the Top 3 in every race today..

Vasco Vascotto (former tactician of Mascalzone Latino) and Jimmy Pahun keep their position - 2nd and 3rd - whereas Jean-Pierre Dick falls from 1st to 4th. The performance of the day was signed by Dawn Riley (former skipper of America True), who reached a 4th place in 5th race and a 2nd place in 6th race, far better than the middle of the table where the mixed crew - American girls and French boys - used to stay. Hats off !

The amateurs were the victims of the pros' trademark : regularity. Jean-Philippe Allilaire and Eric Basset are now behind the professional teams, even if they are still in the amateur ranking Top 3. There is only one - big - expection : Oliver Krauss who bravely defended the 6th position he reached yesterday and loses only one place overall.

Tomorrow is the third and last day of the competition. The competitors have much to gamble, especially since the worst result of each boat will be discarded if seven races of more are completed.

Ranking after 6 matches (Skipper/pts/R1-R2-R3-R4-R5-R6) :

1.   Thierry Péponnet, 23 (7-4-6-2-1-3)
2.   Jimmy Pahun, 30 (5-7-1-3-3-11)
3.   Jean-Pierre Dick, 37 (2-6-2-12-7-8)
4.   Vasco Vascotto, 38 (1-1-10-4-DSQ-1)
5.   Flavio Favini, 44 (13-2-12-1-5-7)
6.   Alain Fédensieu, 43 (11-5-4-5-13-5)
7.   Thierry Bouchard, 44 (9-3-3-6-2-DSQ)
=    Oliver Krauss, 44 (3-9-8-7-8-9)
9.   Christophe Auguin, 55 (6-8-16-10-11-4)
10. Dawn Riley, 56 (14-12-11-13-4-2)
 
  DAY 1
  (Source: proamcup.com )
Beautiful weather and wind conditions in Marseilles for the first day of racing in the Pro-Am Cup. Calling tactics in the first race was not easy with shifty winds. French In Extremis driven by amateur skipper JP Allilaire rounded the first mark at the top position. He was followed by K-Yachting 1 helmed by Vasco Vascotto and Dawn Riley on K-Yachting 5. The Italian skipper took the lead from the second mark and then increased his adavantage until the end of the race. K-Yachting 6 finished second after having started last and executed a 360° penalty ! The winner of the Tour de France à la Voile 2001 showed its potential. Third was amateur Oliver Krauss on Théoule Mandelieu.

The breeze built up to almost 18 knots and the second race was a clear success for the two italian representatives : Vascotto and Favini who crossed the line in the is order without much trouble during the race. French skipper Thierry Bouchard on Défi Sport Adapté made an encouraging third despite the efforts of rock stars like Thierry Peponnet on K-Yachting 4 and Alain Fedensieu on Marseille.

Vasco Vascotto showed its strength in the two first races and everyone was a little bit surprised by this domination. Nevertheless Région Ile-de-France skippered by Jimmy Pahun became the first to contest the italian supremacy achieving an excellent start and choosing the left side of the course.

He was followed closely by K-Yachting 6 and local Marseille. Both front runners managed to keep their position but Défi Sport Adapté took her second third place of the day to Marseille. The best come back was made by Thierry Peponnet who started last and finished 6th.

At the end of this first day 6 professional boats are leading the table, but some favorites like Favini, Dawn Riley or Christophe Auguin will have to wait for the discard to keep their hopes for a win.

Ranking after 3 matches (Skipper/pts/R1-R2-R3) :

1.   Jean-Pierre Dick, 10 (2-6-2)
2.   Vasco Vascotto, 12 (1-1-10)
3.   Jimmy Pahun, 13 (5-7-1)
4.   Thierry Bouchard, 15 (9-3-3)
5.   Thierry Péponnet, 17 (7-4-6)
6.   Oliver Krauss, 20 (3-9-8)
==  Alain Fédensieu, 20 (11-5-4)
8.   Flavio Favini, 27 (13-2-12)
==  Jean-Ph. Allilaire, 27 (8-10-9)
10. Christophe Auguin, 30 (6-8-16)
...
12. Dawn Riley, 37 (14-12-11)
 
  PREVIEW
  (Source: proamcup.com )

Created in 1997 by K-Yachting International, the Pro-Am Cup allows amateur skippers to compete on equal terms with the sailing world élite. Unique in sailing, this concept puts together Mumm 30 (one-design racing 30-footer) owners who benefit from their knowledge of a boat with which they sail all year long, and professional skippers (some of them coming from offshore racing, match racing, multihull or olympic sailing) who are selected on invitation and have a Mumm 30 put at their disposition for the race. Loïck Peyron, Franck Cammas, Bertrand Pacé, Jochen Schumann are some of the "cracks" who accepted the challenge. Next edition from 24th to 28th October 2001 in Marseilles (South of France).

Besides American star Dawn Riley (former America True 2000 CEO and Captain), Israeli amateur skipper Uri Rothstain (Team Israel) is the other competitor who comes from outside the continent. Among the Europeans, British Simon Sarsfield (Panther AMG) will be a serious challenger : he came 4th in the last Mumm 30 Worlds. Swiss Edouard Kessi (Triga) and German Bent Dietrich (Rainbow) complete the international attendance on the amateur side. On the "pro" side, Italian Vasco Vascotto and Flavio Favini (who represents Italian's Mascalzone Latino Challenge for the America's Cup) will certainly be the toughest international skippers.

French boats are logically a majority : they represent two thirds of the fleet. Among the national tour regulars (Thierry Bouchard, Eric Basset, Laurent Sambron, etc.), it is worthy to note the registration of three professionals, including Jimmy Pahun (Région Ile-de-France), 2001 Tour Voile 3rd, and Alain Fédensieu (Marseille), another Mumm 30 specialist who will play at home. Jean-Pierre Dick is the only Frenchman who has won the Tour Voile – in 2001 – since the competition adopted the Mumm 30 ; he is one of the only professional skippers who has been invited as well as solo sailor Christophe Auguin and America’s Cup regular Thierry Péponnet (He is now sailing for Le Défi 2003 as tactician).