The America was commissioned by the New York Yacht Club in an attempt to stop the dominant supremacy of the British in yacht racing.
At 171 tons, with an 11 foot draft, the America was truly a force to be reckoned with. At her first race against the British yachts, The America won the race by two minutes.
At her next race, she beat the fastest British yacht by over an hour, appropriately winning her the first America Cup.