England's Royal Yacht Club invited the U.S. to enter a yacht in a regatta to be held as part of the Royal Exposition of 1851.In response, a syndicate of of six men, led by John Cox Stephens, spent $30,000 to build a new racing schooner, America. After sailing to France to be repainted and outfitted with racing sails, she was entered in a 58-mile race around the Isle of Wight. Sailing against 17 other British yachts, America finished 18 minutes before her closest competitor. As America finished, Queen Victoria asked which vessel was second. This question resulted in the famous response, "Your Majesty, there is no second." |
