Britain's Helena Lucas won Paralympic gold in the 2.4mR class at London 2012 and went on to win bronze in Rio, making her Great Britain's most successful Paralympic sailor. France's Damien Seguin is famous worldwide not only for his five world championship victories in the Paralympic 2.4 class and his three Paralympic Games medals – gold in Athens 2004 and Rio 2016 and silver in Beijing 2008 – but also for his seventh-place finish in the 2020-21 Vendée Globe.
“I am excited to be part of the Argo project," said Lucas. "Having the opportunity to be involved in the 38th America's Cup events against the world's best sailors and knowing that it is a fair playing field is incredible. It's something I loved about the 2.4mR Class and I wished it could have been an Olympic class, but this is even better!” declared the 'golden girl' of British sailing, who made history by winning Paralympic gold in the 2.4mR class at London 2012.
Seguin competed successfully in all sizes of boats – all the way up to ocean racing foilers.
"I have managed to win on every platform despite my disability," he said. "Participating in a project linked to the America's Cup is a dream. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate that we can be different, competent, and highly performant."
Also confirmed to compete as part of the Argo Challenge are:
✓ Renowned Spanish Paralympic sailor Rafa Andarias
✓ Talented Swedish sailor Fia Fielddhall
✓ Italian Antonio Squizzato – newly-crowned 2025 2.4mR World Champion
✓ Promising young Italian sailor Alessandra Franchi
✓ Umberto Panerai – an Italian water polo legend, who has been part of the Argo Challenge since the beginning.
The team has also announced that it will begin its 2026 season by participating in the 71st Tre Golfi Regatta and the Maxi European Championship, scheduled for May in Naples and Sorrento, racing aboard 'Fra Diavolo', owned by the president of the Yacht Club Gaeta, Vincenzo Addessi.
“I am honoured and enthusiastic with the colors of the Yacht Club Gaeta and also personally with my boat to contribute to this project in which I firmly believe," said Addessi, "With the sailors of Argo and their worth, we will compete in important international events with a great message, but always with the objective of winning!'
