Americas Cup News : Breakfast with With a Legend on The Menu.

Breakfast with With a Legend on The Menu.

Finally a morning in San Diego I'm not running to catch the hotel shuttle to Broadway pier this by now had become a morning race of my own.  To beat the tourist in my hotel to the free continental breakfast down stairs..

No this morning was to be special and laid back, to enjoy a part of Americas Cup history and get some photos of a American Iconic place  the San Diego Yacht Club . located on the far side of the Bay far away from all the media And fan fare downtown on Broadway pier and the Americas Cup Villages .


My host is famed Louis Vuitton photographer and Americas Cup . Bob Gieser .I had the meet Bob in Dubai
at the Last Vuitton almost exactly a year to the day he was picking me up to enjoy a Breakfast and local color .
Bob had an assignment that morning covering a Americas Cup Breakfast being held in the Malin Burham Sailing center a intricate  part of the sailing at the Club . Vips were to attend .A breakfast with the Auld Mug up close and personal . Quite an honor.

Bob calls these waters home And arrived right on time to grab me up at my hotel in Americas Cup Harbor, And away we went to the club which was really in walking distance. The Club secure we whisked right threw the gate and  parked and made our way into the Club .
Right away your meet with Trophy walls Trophy walls everywhere . We made our way to Burgee room in the Main club this where the coffee club meets and greets every morning , Donation a buck and your drinking Sailors coffee and trowing the bull its now 7:30am there's all the talk of the current cup going on .. There is a nickname for I will share latter that I learned from this story's surprise guest .

The main hall way is lined with past commander's and endless trophy display that leads to the wrap around Porches that bask you in SC sun and sit amounts to a huge marina this is Americas Cup land this is Americas Cup Harbor, This is Mr Americas Cups Club . 

The Club was home to cup after Dennis Conner and Star and Stripes crew,  the first Man to lose and then bring it back to the US Sailed his Challenge for this Club and returned it here and not to The New York Yacht Club were it had been stored and defended for over 120 years . Bolted to a table in the bar in The Manhattan Club house. 

We are early this gives me time to wonder as we wait for the full breackfast buffett to open you can also order off the menu .Growing up in the East Coast Yacht Club Circles and Managing the second oldest inland club in my younger years . The Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club . This is defiantly a west coast club open aired almost Spa like resort . As I walked around after filling my self with sausage eggs bacon potatoes toast you name it . I could only wonder and look back to when these grounds hosted the Challenger's. from  all over the world and how my have its changed the Cup that is , Every moment wondering if the infamous Mr Americas was at foot . Surprisingly being in this town where there eveidence of him everywhere the repilia America Sailing in the Harbor . To the Two Iacc class Stars and Stirpes boats . But still in village and all the partys and press conferences no Dennis , No Interviews or Vip experiences Were is Mr Americas Cup ?.

Early in the month Dennis was seen he was inducted into the Us Sailing hall of fame with his piors Ted Turner Bill Koch and a present Cup team Ceo Paul Cayard .Something I still will never understand is why theses events weren't held at the same time . The ceremony was held here .

The Marlin Burham Sailing center,was a direct result of the Americas Cup in a way . and related buildings is named for the club member long active in yachting as well as real estate locally who donated to the project. Burham was head of Sail Americas when it defended Against NZL .

 The Malin Burnham Sailing Center is the showpiece of several renovation improvements made to the San Diego Yacht Club facilities in 2010. The 6,900-square-foot center is home to the junior sailing and high school-aged sailing teams and features club memorabilia that celebrates its 125-year history. The new building, outfitted in wood, glass, and Ronstan steel, offers an ideal blend of tradition and modernity to the club’s facilities.

Just about now my attention turns back to the Cups Arriving  before the Vip guests , The Cup is at all time under Guard when not locked in A vault of unknown. location . It travels first Class It travel in its own seat . And it travels with at Least Two Body Guards and has something else a Cup Mother who makes sure its baby the cup is where it should be at all times and on time and well feed , Only kidding , Ive meet her I dont think Im allowed to tell her name for security reason But shes a great Gal.The Cup also has so much as a Cup father as well That would be Tom Ehman

Tom is vice commander of the Golden Gate Yacht club and cup relations at Oracle. He Knows just about ever thing there is to know of Auld Mug And is Crossing the Oceans Showing it a Clubs around the world .From my vantage point on the top deck just after summonsing the elevator for the two Cup escorts . And taking this picture, My attention is taken back toward the main Clubs deck . There a shadowy figure in the sun I cant make and a camera crew that seems to have come from nowhere . I leave to investigate

Could it be as I grow closer could this be my luck ?
My god it is Its Dennis Conner I pinch my self .
A breakfast has turned into a  Memorable moment in Time . Its 8:00am now Sun bright warm well feed had cup alone to take pictures and now this wow ,

Shirley Robertson  of CNN fame and Main Sail is here to interview Dennis ,  .What a morning two giants in sailing on the same deck at the famous club and with the Cup Just feet away . This is a dream .

Shirley Ann Robertson OBE made it in the history books by becoming the first British woman to win two Olympic Gold Medals at consecutive games, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.A sailing star in her own light . Shirley comes over ask me to take a natural picture of her at work Im honored and take the above the sun was blocking her the other way to low in the sky .

This isnt the first time i meet deenis but has been Twent some years he visited the Yacht El Zorro in St Thomas I was Captain of of the Time in between Lossing the Cup and planning a New syndicate to reclain it . The Glory days you might say . He tells me I look familiar I laugh and explain . He says replys well those were some trying times for sure, I cant help but wonder where hes been threw all this , The cup coming Back the 33 rd race , Im not here too interview him hes at his club to see shirley and realx if thats possible .

I remark how Ive been to three of the events this being my third . A short update . He replys well what you think of the Larry Ellison show . I give him a basic update of happenings of the first two and that I had been Lucky enough to ride with James Spithill in Plymouth . On Super Sunday .
Dennis then Ask how was that I said tell you Dennis the only word I can describe it is Power Power power power.. Im now talking two great sailing legends on the deck San Diego yacht club like were all old buddies . Trying not to let the media aspect of why im here show threw. Im really more interested in just shooting the yardarm with them both way away from the lights and attention of downtown ,

I remarked I had been out on America Replica the night before for a Media meet and greet and amazed how easy she was to handle under sail . At this point I belive Shirley asked what had become of the Catamaran Stars And Stripes . He looked a bit unsettled about it and told us he had heard i was sold and wound up in someones Garage . or Building and That in an insuring divorce Thought he heard a story that it was lost to a fire in the Squabble , Painfully a subject that he looked troubled about .

Our attention then went back to the Current cup dennis asked me what my Blog was I told him Isail first and before i could tell him about ACworld series Blog he remarked he has read my story asking where Mr Americas Cup Was The Title . I was blown away .

Dennis remarked this on The Current Americas Cup . Its Larry Ellison show now . I wish him well he earned that right . Whether I agree with the move away from the IACC class Or mono hulls well that another , Im a old school Match racer always will be like alot involved in the Cup like my good friend Bruno Trouble we both will miss those glory days of past. But its alll new now and no room for us old 12 meter guys . Its Larrys Turn now lets hope his investment pays off , He really needs to defend it successfully . I can only wish him the best . Been there done that.

 And as fast as the chance meeting had come it was over well folks thanks  he adds and shakes my hand , Says he belives hes A guest of Team New Zealand for the days Racing and walks a solom figurie into his Club he loves so and help bring to today's glory .

Shirley later remarked what a great guy its really a shame they aren't involing him more in the cups defense . May be more when we get closer to San Francisco we can only hope so . We both agree.
Shirleys Interview will air near Christmas on The Americas Cup Undercovered Episodes . You can Watch on You Tube here .

Americas Cup You Tube Channel .       Watch Here 

This day I can only remeber or even come close to the day Great
Dale Earnhardt Invited me into his hauler for an interview .

Or the day I rode with James Spithill on Oracle 4 in Plymouth Or the day I bought my special addition Star and stripes Hobie cat

All moments That I remembered one thing the day  Dennis won the Cup Back .  , I still have my Nautica Stars and stripes Jacket in closet , The boat under my house . 

A morning of legends  in deed .
9:30an now
Ok time to return to the show, First our press briefing and then to my post as a Americas Cup Villiage greeter. for the event before the Races start and we head out on the photo boats . This event I opted to volunteer  some my time we have alot hours here and Ive been to three events so far. I can help with directions and event Queries at the main gate and we also explained to the public About the AC Heathy Oceans project , To engage the public to share awareness . Our day wont end till around 9:00pm . Well worth the work well worth travel Well worth my dream . Breakfast with Lengends on the Menu  indeed.  

Photos By John Mangino III @isailmedia,com