Countywide

San Diego County supervisors Tuesday approved in concept the granting of $25,000 in tourist tax funds toward the effort of sailboat skipper Dennis Conner to win the America’s Cup in 1987.

The board approved Supervisor Brian Bilbray’s request without discussion. In a letter, Bilbray said Conner needs to raise about $12 million to compete for the cup, which he lost to what Bilbray called a “vastly superior” Australian boat in 1984.

Should Conner win the event, to be held off Perth, Australia, San Diego would stand a good chance to host the 1990 America’s Cup race, which could pump millions of dollars into the local economy, Bilbray said.

The supervisors will make a final decision on the $25,000 allocation during budget deliberations this summer.