Dennis Conner Inducted into National Sailing Hall of Fame
All sailing enthusiasts in Manhattan, where Dennis Conner has played such an important role, are proud and happy to hear of his induction to the National Sailing Hall of Fame.
Our relationship blossomed further in 2005, when Dennis became the Patron of North Cove. North Cove is the crown jewel of the Manhattan waterfront. The marina is also home to our sailing club and Manhattan Sailing School. North Cove has served as the most important incubator for recreational sailing in the Harbor.
With Dennis as the new Patron of North Cove, the marina blossomed. The original Med mooring system was restored, new sailboat friendly docks were installed, additional space was allocated to the sailing school to serve more of the public and a new era of high quality customer service began. This partnership revived North Cove and made it world class.
Today, North Cove experiences the highest volume of yachts ever in it’s history. Not only has the marina thrived, but with Dennis’ category_idance North Cove has established excellent relationships with the local community, curtailing late night noise, fostering one of the largest adult sailing schools in the country and supporting a variety of programing, including the new junior sailing camps for kids from 8 to 18.
Success at North Cove has continued Dennis’ long history of winning. He won four America’s Cups. In 1983, Conner gained infamy for becoming the first American skipper to lose the Cup. His well-documented struggle to win it back in Australia in 1987 is the stuff of legend. He appeared on the covers of TIME magazine and Sports Illustrated with President Ronald Reagan. He became known as “Mr. America’s Cup.”
But the America’s Cup is just one aspect of Dennis’ storied sailing career. He has won 28 world championships, an Olympic medal, 2 Congressional Cups, 4 Southern Ocean Racing victories, skippered two Volvo Round the World Races and set a Trans-Atlantic speed record.
If that is not enough, he is also an author of books like “No Excuse to Lose” and a motivational speaker who has passed on secrets and wisdom to thousands of corporate executives. In his spare time, he also is an artist and has produced a series of nautical themed works which are now on sail at his San Diego storefront and on-line http://www.dennisconner.com/.
Even as the elder statesman of sailing, Dennis stays very active. This past summer, he competed in the Etchell World Championships where he won a race and finished 6th overall out of 80. This is in addition to his regular racing schedule on his 60′ “Stars & Stripes” as well as his newly restored classic yacht “Fame.” A few years ago, he restored another classic named “Cotton Blossom” which he took over to the Mediterranean to race. Dennis won most of the classic regattas, not only on the race course but also in his knowledge of these yachts and the craftsmanship involved to restore and preserve them.
In New York City, Dennis leads the Annual Sailors Ball every April which raises money for the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation. He is the Patron of the Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge in August which brings amateur sailors together from around the world to generate international goodwill through friendly competition. He has also participated in the annual New York Classic Week.
What’s in the future? Only Dennis knows but you can be sure it will be something interesting and exciting. One of the many projects on the fire is a possible “Dennis Conner International Sailboat Show” which would be based out of North Cove in New York City.
– Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh