Even Up From Down Under for a G’Day : Vendors, Spenders Rock the Dock

The twang--every word spoken with a nasal tone--was unmistakeable. G’Day! Here was an Aussie, four Aussies actually, being good sports and joining the festivities for Dennis Conner and his crew.

C.W. Vaughn, wife Olivia, and another couple--all visiting Southern California from Melbourne--were eyeing the Stars & Stripes shirts that were being sold out of boxes at a waterfront stand.

“Cedric, ask them how much is the long-sleeved shirt,” Olivia said. However, Vaughn’s inquiry brought a mild protest when the vendor explained that the shirt, with the Stars & Stripes logo on the both sides, was actually a sweat shirt that was selling for $20.

“Twenty dollars! That’s a helluva thing. Conner took the cup away from Australia, and we’re being taken here!” said Vaughn, in mock disgust.

Despite the protestation, the two couples forked out $80 for four sweat shirts and walked away, seemingly content.

But Sail America, the Stars & Stripes syndicate that was selling the shirts and Dennis Conner posters to the thousands of souvenir hunters who came to honor Conner and the crew, were not the only enterprising vendors who saw a need, albeit temporary, and filled it.

Dennis Conner posters, with the skipper at the helm of the victorious Stars & Stripes, were selling for up to $87, framed. The vendors assured buyers that each poster will be autographed by Conner, but “it will take four to six weeks for Dennis to sign them.”

Farther down the Embarcadero, a vendor was selling hot dogs and store brand cola at $2 apiece. “It’s crazy,” said an elderly woman. “Some of the hot dogs are still frozen in the middle. I bit into one and almost lost a tooth.”

But despite the distinctly commercial--and American--flavor to the festivities, the crowd appeared to enjoy the celebration. A band with a big band sound of traditional favorites kept the crowd mellow until someone grabbed the microphone and began to bellow out “What Goes Down Must Come Up” to Rap music. The song began like this:

Well, hey there Aussies, g’day there mates

We got business to do, January’s the date.

You’ve got something of ours,

You’re gonna have to give up,

Course we’re talking about America’s Cup.

“Great! Just great! What a great celebration. I don’t know anything about yachting, but I can really identify with this victory celebration because it’s not just for San Diego but for the entire country,” said Richard Serna of Spring Valley, who attended the festivities with his wife, Sarah, and the couple’s infant daughter, Mercy.

Another couple, Lou and Elinor Blanchard drove down from Ventura on Friday to enjoy Saturday’s celebration.

“I’ve been sailing for 26 years,” Blanchard said. “And if you’re a sailor, you can identify with what Conner and the Stars & Stripes accomplished. Some people may not think that yachting is a sport, but winning the America’s Cup is bigger than winning the Super Bowl or the World Series . . . well, maybe bigger than the Super Bowl.”

There is still considerable confusion about where the next America’s Cup race will be held, but Saturday’s hoopla may be a good indicator about San Diego’s willingness to be host to the event.

Local radio and television stations broadcast the festivities live. Cup enthusiasts wore U.S. flags on their backs. The San Diego Tribune’s headline on Saturday was: “Proud City Hails Dennis Conner.” There was a life-sized poster of Conner, along with a replica of the Statue of Liberty, which was left over from the Fourth of July.

Malin Burnham, president of the Stars & Stripes syndicate, called the winning crew “America’s Team,” notwithstanding the claims of a professional football team from Texas and a baseball team from Georgia.

Conner and the crew’s appearance on the pier stage was all too brief for the thousands who came to savor the victory. But as the victorious sailors were being driven back to Lindbergh Field for a flight to Washington and a meeting with President Reagan, the Rap music continued.

Don’t wanna be rude, don’t wanna be mean,

But you’ll wish you were driving a submarine.

When we finish with you, y’all listen up,

We’ll have it back, the America’s Cup.