America’s Cup : SDYC Is Given Majority on 7-Member Defense Committee

A seven-member defense committee was named Saturday by Sail America officials to plan the defense for the next America’s Cup, scheduled for 1991.

The selection includes four members of the San Diego Yacht Club and ends a dispute between the club and the Sail America syndicate that arose soon after Dennis Conner won the Cup at Fremantle, Australia, in February. Conner, who represented the SDYC, was sponsored by the Sail America Foundation.

A controversy arose immediately after Conner’s victory when club officials said the defense should be held in San Diego, while Sail America officials refused to rule out other potential sites. Sail America is under contract to the club to manage the next America’s Cup race wherever it is held.

In April, Dr. Fred Frye, commodore of the SDYC, said the organization’s board of directors wanted a majority of the defense committee to be club members. Saturday, the board’s wishes prevailed. In addition to the four club members, the other three committee members are recognized as outside experts in yachting and sporting events. The committee members representing the San Diego Yacht Club:

--Gene Trepte, a builder, past chairman of the San Diego Zoological Society and former commodore of the club.

--Kim Fletcher, head of a San Diego-based savings and loan association.

--Charles D. Hope, architect, racing boat owner and former commodore of the club.

--Gerald Driscoll, a boat builder who is recognized as one of this country’s most experienced yacht skippers.

The three outside members:

--John K. Marshall, a resident of Maine, former president of a sail manufacturing company and current chief executive officer of the Sail America Foundation.

--Harry L. Usher, past executive vice president and general manager of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee and past Commissioner of the United States Football League.

--Gary Jobson, internationally recognized expert in the yachting field. He served as ESPN commentator for the 1986-87 America’s Cup races.

Thomas F. Ehman, Jr., executive vice president and chief operating officer for Sail America, said the defense committee will probably pick the site for the next races by the first week in November. He said the site will probably be announced at the meetings in London of the International Yacht Racing Union, which is the sport’s governing body, and the International 12-Meter Assn.

In addition to deciding on a site, the defense committee also will pick the dates for the next races and the method of selecting the defending American yacht, Ehman said.

In addition to San Diego, other potential sites that have expressed an interest in hosting the next America’s Cup races are San Francisco; Santa Cruz; Ventura; Long Beach; Atlantic City, N.J.; New Orleans; Newport, R.I.; Detroit; New London, Conn., and Hawaii.

On another matter, Sail America officials Saturday said they are researching the legality of the challenge for the America’s Cup by New Zealand millionaire Michael Fay, who has suggested a three-race series between the two countries that would begin in 11 months’ time.

Sail America syndicate and SDYC officials said a committee will review the Deed of Gift, and the various amendments and “interpreting resolutions” that accompany it, to determine whether Fay’s challenge is legal.

Sail America President Malin Burnham said he hopes to respond to the New Zealand challenge within 30 days.