America’s Cup Syndicates Merge : Sailing: Several members of Beach Boys USA have joined forces with America-3.

A merger Friday of Beach Boys USA and America-3 has reduced the number of America’s Cup defense syndicates from three to two.

America-3 and Team Dennis Conner are the remaining U.S. syndicates. The field of syndicates once numbered five. America-3 will employ several members of the Beach Boys USA staff, including three of its boat designers: Doug Peterson, John Reichel and Jim Pugh. John Bertrand, the Beach Boys USA skipper, will not be part of the new team.

“Without question, the U.S. is in a much stronger position because of the contributions of the Beach Boys syndicate,” said Gene Trepte, chairman of the San Diego Yacht Club’s defense committee. “We are still facing an uphill fight against the challengers, but Beach Boys USA has moved the U.S. effort along in several crucial areas.”

Beach Boys USA had been mired in financial troubles the past several months. David Lowry, chairman of the Beach Boys syndicate who now will head special projects for America-3, said lack of sponsorship hurt his syndicate’s fund raising.

“A lot of things have happened in a very short time here in America,” Lowry said. “The economy, the Mideast crisis. We found corporate America a little distracted. . . . We did not want to see ourselves linger and continue and not be strong.”

The Beach Boys singing group has joined the America’s Cup Organizing Committee to support the event but will not be directly affiliated with the America-3 syndicate. The group is scheduled to give concerts around the world in the upcoming year to promote the regatta. Tour stops include the Orient, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Because of the merger, America-3 might enter more than one boat in May’s IACC World Championships. “That’s a hot topic of discussion,” said Gary Jobson, co-skipper of America-3. “I think there’s a good chance that our first boat will be sailing in the World’s and, of course, the French boat, too. So I’d say the chances are good that we’ll enter two boats in that regatta. But we’re not committing to that.”

The French boat, an international America’s Cup Class boat used for training, originally was purchased by Beach Boys USA. However when the syndicate began experiencing financial troubles, it sold a half-interest to Bill Koch, an Eastern industrialist who is the head of America-3.