FEATURED REGATTAS: September 15, 2008
September 6^th marks a coincidence that was meant to happen.  For disabled sailors the date marks the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.  For other sailors it marks the prize giving of the Rolex Maxi Cup.  What do they have in common?  Some of the Paralympic sailors, such as Heiko Kroeger, had scheduling conflicts.  Not only had they won the right to represent their country at the Paralympics, they were invited to participate in the Rolex Maxi Cup as members of the Argo Challenge aboard Carlo Puri Negri’s Farr 70 Atlanta II.

The Argo Challenge is making headlines throughout the world as an extraordinary project that brings an international team of sailors and athletes with physical disabilities together to compete in the America’s Cup.  For the first time in history, a sports team comprised of athletes who have demonstrated, by example and through their achievements, that they are as capable as able bodied people will compete in the America’s Cup.  They can compete at the same level as others and demonstrate to the world that victory is possible even when one is disabled.  They share the belief that in the world of sport, as in life, barriers can be broken down if one has determination, passion, team spirit, seriousness and professionalism.

The sailor at the helm of the Argo Challenge is two-time Olympic Bronze medalist, Lars Grael.  To this day, Grael is one of the greatest sailors in the world despite the loss of a leg in an accident during a regatta in which he was run over by an intoxicated powerboat driver.  Grael remains a powerhouse at the helm of a Star boat, having led the 2008 Brazilian Olympic Star trials for a good portion of the regatta.  He also steered French Kiss, with some of the members of his Argo Challenge crew, to a victory during the 2006 Voiles de Saint Tropez.

Other members of the Argo on Atlanta II crew are Paolo Scutellaro, former America’s Cup team manager and trimmer; Umberto Panerai, Olympic Water Polo medalist and America’s Cup grinder; Daniele Bonacini, a long jumper; and Pierangelo Vignati, a Paralympic cycling medalist.

Heiko Kroeger, the 2001 2.4 Meter World Champion and Gold medalist at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics, is but one of the Argo Challenge team that will waiting to take to the waters of Qingdao, China for the 2008 Paralympics as the other Argonauts celebrate the progress of their challenge within a challenge in Porto Cervo, Italy at the Rolex Maxi Cup.

Among those who have stepped up to the plate to endorse Argo Challenge is Carlo Puri Negri. He is generously letting the Argo crew use his boat during the Rolex Maxi Cup. The well known Italian entrepreneur let his previous boat Grampus be used to help out in the therapy for psycho-physical disabilities.  Puri Negri said, “I believe a project like Argo has a sound value both from sport viewpoint and from a social one. When Lars Grael and Antonio Spinelli presented me this project I immediately decided to sustain their endeavours. I am positive that this years the races in Porto Cervo will have a special flavour.” Additionally, New Balance, Volkswagen, Evolutiva, SixPeople and Sinergia are partnering with “Argo on Atlanta II” at the Maxi Rolex Cup to launch this exciting and commendable mission.