America is the name of both a racing yacht and syndicate

Syndicate

A syndicate is a self-organizing group of individuals, companies or entities formed to transact some specific business, or to promote a common interest or in the case of criminals, to engage in organized crime...

 that vied for the America's Cup

America's Cup

The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...

 in 1992 and 1995.

1992 Cup victory

The program was operated by Bill Koch

Bill Koch (businessman)

William Ingraham "Bill" Koch is an American businessman, sailor, and collector. His boat was the winner of the America's Cup in 1992. His last name is pronounced "coke." Per Forbes William Koch's net worth was $3.4 billion in 2010 on oil and other investments-Early life and business...

 and Harry "Buddy" Melges

Buddy Melges

Harry "Buddy" Melges, Jr., is one of the most successful competitive sailors in history, with dozens of national and international championships in many different classes, including ice-boating as well as conventional sailing...

 in the 1992 America's Cup. After winning the Defender Series, America defeated the Italian

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 challenger Il Moro di Venezia

Il Moro di Venezia

Il Moro di Venezia was the name for five International America’s Cup Class boats built for the 1992 Italian team, Il Moro Challenge, headed by industrialist Raul Gardini...

to successfully defend the Cup.

1995 Cup defense

In 1995, Bill Koch revamped the program to begin the first all-female, America's Cup boat. America's successor, Mighty Mary, was on its way to the 1995 America's Cup, in the lead of the last race of the Defender Series over Stars & Stripes

Stars & Stripes (yacht)

Stars & Stripes is the name of a series of racing yachts operated by Dennis Conner to compete in the America's Cup. The name "Stars & Stripes" refers to the nickname often used for the flag of the United States.- 12-metre class yachts :1987 America's Cup...

. But with a commanding lead of nearly 5 minutes, Dave Dellenbaugh (the only man on the otherwise all-female crew) committed a crucial tactical error and Stars & Stripes skipper Dennis Conner

Dennis Conner

Dennis Conner is an American yachtsman, noted for winning the bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics, two Star World Championships, and four wins in the America's Cup.-America's Cup:...

 made a series of moves to beat Mighty Mary to the finish line by scant seconds. After winning the Defender Series, Conner opted to use the third syndicate that year, Young America

Young America

-Geography:United States*Young America, Indiana*Young America, Wisconsin*Norwood Young America, Minnesota*Young America Township, Carver County, Minnesota*Young America Township, Edgar County, Illinois*Young America Lake, a lake in Minnesota- Films :...

, to defend the cup, losing to Team New Zealand, 5-0.

Current status

In 2010 the yacht resided at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island on permanent display outdoors.