America’s Cup 1988

America’s Cup 1988. The year Dennis Connor broke convention and sailed his multi-hull catamaran in the finals against Sr. Michael Fay’s KZ-1. Although I had been a long-time fan of the event, this one was of personal interest. Through a business relationship, I knew Dennis. Our corporation, the City of San Diego Southeast Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), was charged with the disposition and build out of two City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency owned business parks. One of our specific tasks, was a build to suit light industrial building for Dennis. Unfortunately, this particular construction had nothing to do with boat building. It was for his new bread and butter enterprise, Dennis Connor Sports, Inc. Still there was some irony to it all.

Some two weeks before the race, and as President of SEDC, I was to be inducted into the Downtown San Diego Rotary Club. As the 10th largest club in Rotary International, it’s meetings were held in the ballroom of the Sheridan Harbor Island Hotel. On that day I was seated at the dais with none other, the program’s keynote speaker, Sr. Michael Fay. Seated between Sr. Michael and myself was Lana Marie Coc-Kroft, Miss New Zealand 1988. Since the Downtown Club is comprised of much of the brass of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the San Diego Yacht Club, Dennis was sitting just two rows in front along with the majority of members wearing ‘Service Dress Whites.”
So the question for you, who was the most interesting: Dennis, Michael, Lana or a newby rotarian? You only get one guess and it wasn’t me!

By the way–It wasn’t until the next year, 1989, that women were invited to join Rotary.