A CITY SAIL-EBRATES : San Diego Welcomes Conner and the America’s Cup Back to the United States

A red-eyed Dennis Conner made a triumphant return to the city of his birth Saturday, as an estimated 35,000 people jammed the San Diego docks to greet their favorite son and catch a glimpse of the America’s Cup.

Conner had left Australia the day before, and he spent a mere 2 1/2 hours here before leaving for Washington, and a meeting with President Reagan. Although tired after the long journey, Conner nodded and smiled through it all.

“It was a great thrill to represent you all and really was fantastic for us to bring the Cup back home where it belongs,” he said.

The Stars & Stripes, sponsored by the San Diego Yacht Club, won four straight victories over Australian defender Kookaburra III to win the best-of-seven race final series off Fremantle, Australia.

Conner, who officially took possession of the trophy during a Friday ceremony in Fremantle, was the last to come off the donated chartered jet that brought his crew, family, friends and supporters from Australia.

With tears in his eyes, Conner cradled the solid silver Cup while listening to congratulations from Mayor Maureen O’Conner and Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.).

Conner then rode about four blocks in the back of a convertible, carrying the Cup in one hand and an American flag in the other.

At a harborside rally, Conner told flag-waving revelers that his quest was complete.

“This is a dream come true as you can imagine,” he said. “When we lost the Cup in 1983, obviously it was a tremendous blow after 132 years.”

O’Connor, who gave Conner, his crew and Sail America Foundation President Malin Burnham the key to the city already has begun a campaign to have the 1990 races held here.

“Everyone that lives in San Francisco, New York and Hawaii says that San Diego doesn’t care and doesn’t show up to support their teams,” she said. “I say, no. You do!

“There was a question whether we had the money or not. Well, the Port Authority of San Diego has $175 million of cash in the bank, and it’s earning $50,000 worth of interest a day. And they’re more than willing to underwrite the America’s Cup for San Diego!”

Later, at a 15-minute press conference, Conner was asked several times whether the next Cup races will be held off San Diego, but he sidestepped the question.

“Listen,” he said, “I’m just savoring it (the victory) now.”

Instead, Burnham did the talking. He said a committee (the majority of which will be members of the San Diego Yacht Club) would be formed within 30 days and that a decision on the race site could be made within 90 to 180 days.

“I’m not trying to duck any questions, but I have no authority and Dennis has no authority,” Burnham said. “It’s entirely possible we won’t even be on the committee. . . . but as a native San Diegan, it would be pretty hard for me to suggest that San Diego doesn’t have the best chance of having the America’s Cup event here. But, again, there are a lot of people around the world interested, and they have to be heard from as well.”

Newport, R.I., is one example. Burnham said the state of Rhode Island purchased a full-page advertisement in a Western Australian newspaper last week, congratulating Conner and asking to be the next host city.

O’Connor grimaced when she heard this.

“We have the facilities, but it’s up to the committee,” she said. “I’m just hoping . . . that when push comes to shove, San Diego will win out.”

Certainly, the enthusiasm was there Saturday. Local radio stations originated their broadcasts from the docks, and when Conner’s airplane, christened “The Stars & Stripes,” arrived at the airport, there was a private ceremony, followed by the parade to the docks.

People in the crowd wore American flags on their backs. Others sold America’s Cup T-shirts for $12 and framed portraits of Conner for $87.

There was a life-size cardboard poster of Conner. There was a large replica of the Statue of Liberty. There was an Uncle Sam on stilts. Two women came dressed as buoys. Tiny American flags were distributed free.

John Marshall, the Stars & Stripes syndicate member who will lead the effort to build a better 12-meter boat for 1990, said: “Can we build a faster boat? The best of the 12 meters this time sailed 3% or 4% faster than the standard of 1983, and that’s a tremendous amount of progress.

“Our design team did a superb job producing a boat that was competitive, but, very frankly, this boat (Stars & Stripes ‘87) is obsolete today, and the next America’s Cup will be sailed in boats that are substantially faster still.”

According to the Associated Press during a stopover at Honolulu on the flight from Australia, Conner and his family met for about 45 minutes with Hawaii Gov. John Waihee, who wants to have the next America’s Cup race in his state.

“I would say that Dennis, his wife and children would like very much for the 1990 races to happen in Hawaii,” Waihee told reporters after the meeting.

Waihee said Conner told him: “I feel like I won it for Hawaii because we trained here.” Conner trained his crew and tested Stars & Stripes for 10 months off Hawaii before the race.

The governor said Conner, who did not meet with reporters, told him he felt conditions off Hawaii most closely parallel those where he won the trophy in the Indian Ocean off Australia.