Deukmejian Won’t Take Sides in Cup Race Site Rivalry

Welcoming the skipper and backers of the Stars and Stripes to the Capitol, Gov. George Deukmejian proclaimed Thursday “America’s Cup Day” in California but declined to back San Diego’s effort to stage the next regatta in 1991.

“I’m not going to take sides,” Deukmejian said of the competition among California cities to present the races.

Then the Long Beach resident smiled and added to a room filled with San Diego Republicans: “If it happened to be in a city that isn’t too far from my home, I wouldn’t mind.”

Deukmejian said his Administration is “very hopeful and very anxious” to have the next America’s Cup races held somewhere in California.

“If there is anything at all the state of California can do to assist, we will be more than happy and willing to do that,” he said.

Deukmejian was host to skipper Dennis Conner, along with Malin Burnham, president of the Sail America syndicate, and Fred Frye, commodore of the San Diego Yacht Club. San Diego Port District Commissioner Dan Larsen, City Councilman Bill Cleator, County Supervisor Brian Bilbray and Assemblywoman Sunny Mojonnier (R-Encinitas) also attended.

Greg Kahwajian, an aide to Deukmejian and the Administration’s point man for America’s Cup activities, said the state would be willing to commit the same kind of effort to the Cup that it did to the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles.

“Every time they drive another pylon into the bay, they have to get a (state) permit,” Kahwajian said as an example. “State assistance would be needed in facilitating that process.”

Conner won the Cup back from Australia earlier this year, avenging his loss of four years ago, which was the first U.S. defeat in the races since the yacht America won the Cup in 1851.

Times staff writer Richard C. Paddock contributed to this story.