Dennis Conner’s hopes of becoming the defender...

Dennis Conner’s hopes of becoming the defender in the 1992 America’s Cup were enhanced when he received financial backing from Pepsi-Cola, which put him over the necessary $6-million mark required of all potential defenders before the Oct. 1 deadline.

Pepsi was a sponsor when Conner won the America’s Cup back from Australia in 1987 and defended it against New Zealand in 1988.