San Diego’s America’s Cup History and the Schooner America
The America’s Cup is the oldest international trophy in sport, and it all started with one boat: a schooner called America. More than 170 years later, a full-size replica of that schooner sails San Diego Bay, a city that has its own deep ties to the Cup.
San Diego hosted the America’s Cup three times between 1988 and 1995. Today you can step aboard The Yacht America and sail the same waters where those matches were won and lost. Here’s the story of how a single race in 1851 led to San Diego, and to the deck of our ship.
1851: The Race That Started It All
In 1851, a syndicate of New York Yacht Club members led by Commodore John Cox Stevens commissioned a fast schooner to take to England. Designed by George Steers and launched in New York that May, she was named America.
On August 22, 1851, America lined up against a fleet of British yachts in the Royal Yacht Squadron’s race around the Isle of Wight, a 53-mile course. The prize was a silver trophy known as the £100 Cup. America crossed the finish 18 minutes ahead of her closest rival.
As legend has it, Queen Victoria was watching and asked who had come in second. The reply: “There is no second, Your Majesty.”
132 Years Undefeated
In 1857, the surviving members of America’s syndicate donated the trophy to the New York Yacht Club. It came with a Deed of Gift naming it a “perpetual challenge Cup for friendly competition between foreign countries.” From then on, it was known as the America’s Cup, named for the schooner that won it.
What followed was the longest winning streak in sports history. The New York Yacht Club defended the Cup 24 straight times over 132 years. That run finally ended in 1983, when Australia II beat Liberty 4–3 off Newport, Rhode Island.
The loss set the stage for San Diego’s place in Cup history. In 1987, skipper Dennis Conner sailed Stars & Stripes 87 to a 4–0 win off Fremantle, Australia, and brought the Cup home. This time, it went to the San Diego Yacht Club.
San Diego Hosts the America’s Cup
With the Cup at the San Diego Yacht Club, the racing came to San Diego. The city hosted three matches in eight years:
| Year | Defender (U.S.) | Challenger | Result |
| 1988 | Stars & Stripes 88 | KZ-1 (New Zealand) | Stars & Stripes won 2–0 |
| 1992 | America³ | Il Moro di Venezia (Italy) | America³ won 4–1 |
| 1995 | Young America | Black Magic (New Zealand) | Black Magic won 5–0 |
1988 was one of the most unusual matches in Cup history. New Zealand challenged with KZ-1, a massive 90-foot monohull. San Diego answered with a fast catamaran, Stars & Stripes 88. The mismatch led to a court fight over the rules, but the courts ultimately upheld San Diego’s win.
1992 brought a new class of boat and a full international fleet to San Diego Bay. Bill Koch’s America³ beat Italy’s Il Moro di Venezia to keep the Cup in San Diego.
1995 ended the San Diego era. Team New Zealand’s Black Magic swept Young America 5–0, and the Cup left for Auckland. For a decade, though, San Diego Bay was the center of the sailing world.
The Schooner America Comes to San Diego
The original America had a long and dramatic life after 1851. She was sold in England, served as a blockade runner during the Civil War and later became a training ship at the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1942, the shed sheltering her at Annapolis collapsed in a snowstorm, and the historic schooner was lost.
Her story didn’t end there. In 1995, the same year San Diego hosted its last Cup, Scarano Boatbuilding of Albany, New York, launched a full-size replica of America. In 2005, Next Level Sailing brought her to San Diego, where she sails today.
At 139 feet with a 105-foot main mast and 5,900 square feet of sail, The Yacht America captures the lines and presence of the original. She’s powered mostly by wind, just like the schooner that beat Britain’s best in 1851.
Sail on a Piece of America’s Cup History
There’s no better way to feel this history than from the deck. Every sail aboard The Yacht America takes you across the same bay where Stars & Stripes, America³ and Black Magic raced for the Cup.
Here are a few ways to get on board:
- Whale watching tours: Our most popular sail, with seasonal gray whales, dolphins and sea lions.
- Cocktail cruises: Drinks and hors d’oeuvres with views of the skyline and the Coronado Bridge.
- Private charters: Book the whole ship for up to 77 guests, for corporate events, weddings, birthdays and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Yacht America the original 1851 schooner?
No. The original was lost in 1942. The Yacht America is a full-size replica built in 1995 and based in San Diego since 2006.
How many times has San Diego hosted the America’s Cup?
Three times: in 1988, 1992 and 1995.
Why is it called the America’s Cup?
The trophy is named after the schooner America, which won it in 1851 and gave the race its name.
Ready to Sail?
Step aboard a legend and see San Diego Bay the way Cup sailors did. Book a sail with us today for an unforgettable adventure.