Dennis Conner and Ted Turner, with pro...

Dennis Conner and Ted Turner, with pro football players among their crews, will sail a match race Jan. 28 off San Diego in 12-meter boats, three days before the Super Bowl in that city.

Conner will sail Stars & Stripes ‘86, which was built for his last America’s Cup campaign but was not taken to Australia for the competition. Turner will sail Liberty, which Conner sailed in a 4-3 loss to Australia II in 1983 and which Conner recently has been sailing in local San Diego events.

One NFL player on each boat will be the assistant skipper. New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms probably will be with Turner, and three or four other players on each boat will be winch grinders, a task that requires more muscle than sailing skill. Eight experienced sailors will fill out each crew.