Dickson's return causes sailor to quit

By HELEN TUNNAH

Chris Dickson's sudden return to favour in Oracle's America's Cup challenge has claimed at least one casualty. Sail trimmer Stu Argo has quit the team and claims others will follow.

Argo was seen farewelling his team at a Westhaven bar on Thursday night, cheered on by Oracle supporters.

The American veteran of five cup campaigns described the decision to restore the New Zealander to the sailing team as a "cluster bomb" and "too bitter a pill to swallow".

Argo has written columns for his yacht club condemning the decision by billionaire syndicate head Larry Ellison to bring Dickson back. He was ousted from the sailing team in February because of crew discontent.

After Dickson was named as back-up helmsman on Wednesday, Argo wrote that drama would follow.

"Someone just kick[ed] the snowball off the mountaintop and the whole village is in danger."

A day later, Dickson replaced the world's number one match-racer, Peter Holmberg, as helmsman, and Argo quit.

"I am a huge believer in chemistry on a team and the pill was too large to swallow, said a few words to that effect and bowed out gracefully."

Argo's fellow Bayview Yacht Club members told the Weekend Herald that other Oracle team members had already left, but an Oracle spokeswoman denied that.

She would not say if Argo had left because of Dickson.

"To respect his privacy, Oracle BMW Racing is declining to elaborate on the reasons why."

He has sailed in five America's Cup teams, including the 1992 winning campaign backed by Bill Koch.

The decision to elevate Dickson to steer USA76 was made by Ellison on Wednesday night after Oracle's $US85 million campaign began to founder - four losses in five races.

Predictions that crew would leave followed immediately but Ellison made no apologies for relegating Holmberg to the warm-up boat.

He said Dickson was needed to instill better communication in the afterguard and "fresh eyes" across the yacht's performance, including the sail trim.

Yesterday, sailors who have worked with Dickson were reluctant to say whether his return would improve communication, and the performance of the team.

But many doubted that Oracle's disappointing performance was Holmberg's fault.

Questions were asked about the speed of the Farr Yacht Design boat downwind and in light airs, but Ellison said there was no problem with boat speed.

However, he has put Dickson, who has a good working relationship with designer Bruce Farr, in charge of both the sailing crew and the development of the racing boats.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

Racing schedule, results and standings