KEY POINTS:
They stayed on the boat for a long time ... a very long time ... after arriving back at the base.
BMW Oracle Racing, the team many thought would challenge Alinghi for the America's Cup, had just been tossed out of the Louis Vuitton challengers' series by Luna
Rossa. Not lightly tossed either, more like biffed out.
Luna Rossa beat them 5-1 in a best-of-nine series. Not only that, they led Oracle around every single mark in every race.
After what seemed like forever, the Oracle sailors got up and applauded politely as the victorious Luna Rossa crew sailed by.
Among those on the dock was Chris Dickson, the man who had earlier been taken off the boat by syndicate owner Larry Ellison.
Ellison told Dickson of his decision the night before. At 7am, the news had spread through the wives' network. At 10am, Luna Rossa boss Patrizio Bertelli heard. Then came the media statement.
So what went wrong with the team that had everything?
They described their first new boat, USA87, as the most innovative modern cup yacht ever built, raved about their second boat, USA98, as though it was the eighth wonder of the world.
Well, much of the blame must lie with the management spearheaded by Dickson.
Renowned for a dictatorial leadership style and inability to let people do their jobs when the pressure is on, he has to be the key component in Oracle's failure.
Tactician Gavin Brady acknowledged in round two that Dickson could "be a very aggressive boss and difficult to work with at times".
Dickson's chequered career speaks volumes.
He was ousted from the Oracle team in the last cup after disputes with team members and there are numerous stories about his bust-ups with teammates in the round-the-world race.
Brady has an equally volatile temper. How Ellison couldn't see the obvious is mind boggling. Many people thought the team were going to implode - the question was when.
Dickson still sported his spotless white Oracle uniform yesterday but was clearly despondent, answering questions mechanically. His cup future is up in the air. During the past six to seven years, he has spent close to $400 million of Ellison's money and failed to get the software tsar with the oh-so-deep pockets anywhere near yachting's greatest prize.
