Members of the San Diego Yacht Club and quests gathered Feb. 4 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the greatest comeback in sailing history. On Feb. 4 1987, the San Diego-based “Stars & Stripes” defeated Australia to return the America’s Cup trophy to the U.S. Dennis Conner, known to many as “Mr. America’s Cup” and a graduate of Point Loma High School, represented the San Diego Yacht Club 25 years ago to win back the oldest trophy in international sports for the U.S. It was a major comeback for the skipper of the 12-meter “Stars & Stripes.” Four years earlier, Conner had sailed for the New York Yacht Club and the U.S. lost the America’s Cup for the first time in 132 years. Losing the cup — then winning it back again in 1987 — generated a new worldwide interest in sailing — and particularly in the America’s Cup races.   The trophy is now 160 years old.  In 1851, the U.S. pulled off a major upset and embarrassed the sailing powers of Europe by defeating Great Britain with a schooner named “America.” The trophy was sent to the New York Yacht Club and renamed the America’s Cup.  For the last 160 years, only four nations have shared the most coveted prize in sailing. Currently, the Golden Gate Yacht Club is keeper of the prize. San Francisco will host the next America’s Cup in 2013, when the U.S. will try to defend the trophy against the next challenger selected from the Louis Vuitton Cup regattas held in San Diego and around the world.