Commodore’s Dinner

Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Club Room

Dennis Conner has uniquely won the America's Cup 2 times, successfully winning the Cup in 1987 and defending in 1988.

He was the skipper of the first defender (12 meter Liberty) to be defeated in the 132-year history of the Cup, with their loss in 1983 to Australia II.  Following this loss Dennis responded by forming his own syndicate, the Sail America Foundation, through which he raised funds to mount a challenge to return the Cup. Representing SDYC, DC defeated 13 challengers, and went on to dramatically win the Cup aboard his 12 meter Stars and Stripes 87 from Australia's Kookaburra III/Iain Murry in 1987.

After taking the Cup back to American soil in San Diego, Conner defeated a rouge New Zealand Challenge in a giant 120' monohull with an innovative defense in a 60' wing-sailed catamaran for his second America's Cup win in 1988. This was the first time a catamaran arrived at the scene of the America's Cup! 

USA (America 3) defended the Am Cup in San Diego in 1992, and in 1995 Dennis won the defender Trials to defend USA yet again. Dennis lost the cup for a second time to a lean and very focused New Zealand challenge (Black Magic).

Within the yachting community, Conner is most famous for fundamentally changing the America's Cup, and racing in general, from an amateur summer competition to a professional career. While he has achieved great feats with the America's Cup, he has achieved many other notable sailing accomplishments which include a Bronze Olympic Medal, 28 World Championships, 4 Southern Ocean Racing Cups, 2 Congressional Cups, 7 time winner San Diego Yachtsman of the Year, 3 time winner U.S Yachtsman of the Year, Captain for 2 Whitbread Round the World Races, and is an inductee into the U.S. Sailing Hall of Fame.

 

MENU ($36.00++)

  • Wedge Salad
  • Braiser Beef Short Ribs or Chicken Mushroom Marsala
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Winter Vegetables
  • Warm Berry Cobbler

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