America's Cup: Stormy waters

By Stuart Alexander in Valencia - The Independent

The bigger they come the harder they fall, and aftershock tremors continue to rumble after the crash of the €120m (£81.25m) BMW Oracle bid to win the America's Cup. Big Brother has nothing on the fall from grace and eviction of one Christopher Stuart Dickson from his previous fiefdom.

How did it happen? How could such an expensively crafted machine fall to bits so comprehensively in front of a disbelieving world? Do not look at the boat and sails; they were a match for anyone. Do not look at the crew who raced them; they are as skilled as anyone.

Look instead at the mantra which says the America's Cup is first and foremost a management exercise. Examine the leadership and inspiration, qualities so vital in sport, and there you see the cracks in the American-flagged, New Zealand-dominated campaign. > more