These guys are playing with big toys.

Maybe a bit too dramatic, but clearly it's a loss of face for Clarke to drop out. A simple "I fold" would have been sufficient, except the yachting press would want an explanation. If executed carefully with counsel from a good PR firm, a loss preceded by a cry of foul would have been more gracious than a forfeit. But Clarke is a world-shaper, at least in his own circles and within the sphere of his investments -- and with pockets that deep he is likely accustomed to making reality fit his visions. Still, the big players stain their shorts same as everyone else, and in this case, the stains seem to be showing.