When the news became official that the new America's Cup will be held in 2013 in San Francisco and that there will be 2.5 years of World Series competition among the best sailors on the fastest boats, the Argo Challenge for the America's Cup changed its strategy and began its San Francisco Bay Area America's Cup immersion program.  We have come a long way in the first two weeks of the new year and we want you to know that we are closer than ever to challenging the concept of "normal" in everyday life by having our international team of disabled athletes and sailors be included in the lead up events to the 34th America's Cup. 

We are striving to obtain the necessary sponsorship to fund a competitive entry and meet the established registration deadline of March 31, 2011.  As always, we are living by our credo "WeCanUCan"!

The Argo Challenge attended San Francisco's America's Cup celebration on January 5th and has been working with various organizations throughout San Francisco and the Bay area in preparing for the formal launch of the Challenge.  All of our new friends and supporters embrace the spirit of inclusion in the America's Cup.  The San Francisco Bay Area has a large community of people with disabilities and proactive network of organizations to support the community's activities.  We are looking forward to working with them and all of the individuals, corporations, research and health organizations that promote bettering the lives of people with disabilities of all kinds. 

Argo Challenge has Legs

The Argo Challenge has been working 24/7 in Europe and from the West Coast of the United States to transform Idea Argo into a reality. 

We have one vision, one value and one dream.  We want to compete in the 34th edition of the America's Cup on under the same terms as the other challengers. 

Argo's many activities since the December 31st announcement that the America's Cup will be held in San Francisco in 2013 include: Introducing the Argo Challenge to the City and County of San Francisco through the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development.  The office showed its willingness to embrace our effort with the hope that the America's Cup has a diversity of challengers and and as many challengers as possible.  The Argo Challenge, in particular, is a compelling effort that resonates with San Francisco's values.  MOCR Argo Challenge at the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta The Rolex Miami Olympic Classes regatta starts on January 24th and runs through January 29th.  Many of the Argo Challenge team members who are doing Olympic and Paralympic sailing campaigns will be there.  The regatta is the only ISAF World Cup event in North America.  Please join the Argo Challenge, Shake a Leg Miami, Team Paradise and the Wounded Warriors at Shake a Leg Miami on Sunday afternoon, January 23rd, at Shake a Leg for a pre-regatta gathering. 

We are still scouting for talent, technology and sponsors and Shake a Leg and Team Paradise will be our stomping ground through the end of January. 

Argo is the Challenge to the next America's Cup with an international team of sailors and disabled athletes.  This project is about challenging the common concept of "normality", bringing it beyond the usual understanding of everyday life.  Our goal is to show the world that it is possible to reach great objectives even if one is disabled, and that in sport, as in life, barriers can be overcome if one is determined, passionate, professional and work in a great team.  We will send a strong and universal message - On par, no barriers: wecanucan

The Argo Challenge welcomes partners of all kinds and is a non-profit organization formed in compliance with the tax codes of Italy. 

We are proud to announce that Christian Giannini, a San Franciscan investment banker with offshore sailing campaign management experience and Star crew, has come aboard as our CFO.  Giannini received his BS in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco, and his MBA from University of Chicago, GSB.  Current business ventures focus on the Middle East and Asian financial market. 

--From Lynn Fitzpatrick/Argo Challenge

The Argo Challenge welcomes partners of all kinds and is a non-profit organization formed in compliance with the tax codes of Italy.  The 2.5-year media platform developed by the America's Cup organizers combined with their commitment to secure substantial funding and media distribution and the inspirational story that will unfold as our Argonauts establish themselves as among the best sailors on the fastest boats will provide our sponsors, patrons and supporters with substantial returns on their investments in the Argo Challenge for the America's Cup.  Please join us now.

Links of Interest:
Argo's video at YouTube
Argo web site
Argo Press Release from 2008: Argo at Maxi Challenge and 2008 Paralympics