As we countdown to the 35th America’s Cup The Royal Gazette will bring you one fun fact a day about the boats, the sailors, the crew, or the history of this illustrious competition. There are now 42 days until the month-long sporting spectacle gets under way.

Known as Mr America’s Cup, Dennis Conner has won the trophy four times; three as the defender in 1974, 1980 and 1988, and winning as the challenger in 1987.

An accomplished sailor, Conner, who has written several books on sailing and the America’s Cup, has a host of titles to his name including two golds and a silver at the world championships in the Star Class.

He is also no stranger to Bermuda, having taken part in the King Edward VII Gold Cup alongside Sir Russell Coutts, the chief executive of the America’s Cup Event Authority.

Conner also did his bit to help send a Bermuda team to the ISAF Team Racing World Championships in England in 2015, travelling to the island to help with fundraising.

“As you know Bermuda has produced so many great sailors over the years; Peter Bromby and Paula Lewin in the short term and then legends like Shorty Trimmingham in the long term,” Conner told The Royal Gazette at the time. “I think it’s good we continue this tradition and to make that work it takes money to fly around and compete at international level.

“So, I am going to try to raise some money so they [youth sailors] can go and compete worldwide and raise their game to be more competitive and who knows how they can get.

“I just want to give these kids a better chance so it’s all really about the kids for me and giving back to the sport.”