Author(s): Alan Sefton

Sailing

The America's Cup has always been a hotbed of unbridled ambition, personal agendas, intrigue, spying and, more recently, hard-fought court cases - and that's before the boats even get out on the water to race. Exposed: The Dark Side of the America's Cup lifts the lid on this unique contest for the oldest trophy in sport and on the powerful men who have made it `the toughest game in town'. For some it has been the key to social advancement, for others it has opened important doors in the business and commercial world, and in some cases it has become a magnificent obsession. It is the pinnacle of achievement in a sport that was once the domain of the wealthy but which today has become fertile territory for a new breed of super-wealthy owners and sailing professionals who would change the event forever. Exposed is a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of one of the most compelling and controversial contests in the whole of sport.