Argo Challenge: A 20-year quest to bring disabled sailors into the America’s Cup

Italian Antonio Spinelli is the driving force behind the Argo Challenge, a bold and ambitious campaign to assemble an international squad of disabled sailors to participate in both the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup competitions during AC38, with a stretch goal of competing in next year’s three scheduled AC40 preliminary regattas against the full America’s Cup teams.

Spinelli – a past ski instructor who works as a volunteer in an organisation that encourages people with disabilities to get involved in sport – led the first iteration of the Argo Challenge back in 2006 when he and Brazilian double Olympic bronze medallist Lars Grael put together a crew of able-bodied and disabled sailors with the goal of competing in the America’s Cup.

Although that campaign did not ultimately come to fruition – in some part because of the hiatus caused by the Oracle Team USA v Alinghi lawsuit – the team acquitted themselves well, and notably performed credibly in the Voiles de St Tropez and the Maxi World Championship in Sardinia.

Now, almost 20 years on, Spinelli is drumming up support for a second tilt at involving disabled sailors in the America’s Cup. The revival of his dream has come about largely because of the introduction of the AC40 foiling monohull, which is raced by a crew of four sailors who all remain seated during racing and control the boat using steering wheels and push button controls.

After watching the AC40s racing in the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup events during the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, Spain last year, Spinelli saw the potential for crews of disabled sailors to compete on a level playing field.

“The main idea is to participate in the Youth America’s Cup and the Women’s America’s Cup, and – if the teams agree – to participate in the preliminary events in the AC40.