Giving back to a sport that gave so much to him during an extraordinary career has become a passion of sailing legend Dennis Conner.

So when the opportunity presented itself to help raise funds to send a Bermuda team to this summer’s ISAF Team Racing World Championship in England, the man commonly referred to in sailing circles as “Mr America’s Cup” grasped it with both hands.

Conner helped raise funds at last night’s sold out fundraising dinner and lecture held at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club attended by a host of local sailing dignitaries, among them past Bermuda Olympic sailor Peter Bromby.

“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.

“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.”

The 2015 ISAF Team Racing World Championship will take place in Rutland, England, from July 20 to 24. The regatta will feature as many as 36 teams competing in double handed Firefly type dinghies across open and youth divisions.

Conner is one of the greatest sailors of all time.

He is a four times America’s Cup winner, successfully defending the coveted “Auld Mug” in 1974, 1980, and 1988 and winning as the challenger in 1987.

He is also an Olympic bronze medallist and has won 28 world championships, two Congressional Cups and competed twice in the Whitbread Round -the- World Race as a skipper.

In 1987 the legendary sailor was chosen as ABC Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year.

He resides in both the America’s Cup Hall of Fame and US Sailing Hall of Fame and is a three times US Yachtsman of the Year award winner.

Asked about his thoughts on his exceptional sailing legacy, Conner said: “Twenty-eight world championships, four America’s Cup victories, an Olympic medal and twice Round -the- World I think says it all.”