On August 22, 1851, America won the Royal Yacht Squadron's 53-mile (85 km) regatta around the Isle of Wight by 18 minutes.

The purpose of this visit was twofold: to show off U.S. shipbuilding skill and make money through competing in yachting regattas.

[8] America was captained by Richard Brown, who was also a skilled member of the Sandy Hook Pilots group, renowned worldwide for their expertise in manoeuvering the shoals around New York Harbor.

Brown had sailed aboard the pilot boat Mary Taylor, designed by George Steers, of whom he was a personal friend.

The accounts of the race are contradictory: a British newspaper said Laverock held her own, but Stevens later reported that America beat her handily.

She never raced until the last day of the Royal Yacht Squadron's annual members-only regatta for which Queen Victoria customarily donated the prize.

Because of America's presence, a special provision was made to "open to all nations" a race of 53 miles (85 km) 'round the Isle of Wight, with no reservation for time allowance.

On the final leg of the race the yacht Aurora closed but was 18 minutes behind when America finished shortly after 6:00 PM.

"[12] John Cox Stevens and the syndicate from the New York Yacht Club owned the America from the time that she was launched on May 3, 1851, until ten days after she won the regatta that made her famous.

[13] De Blaquiere raced her only a few times before selling her in 1856 to Henry Montagu Upton, 2nd Viscount Templetown, who renamed her Camilla but failed to use or maintain her.

Decie sold the ship to the Confederate States of America the same year for use as a blockade runner in the American Civil War, though he remained aboard as captain.

The yacht was renamed Camilla and carried Major Edward Clifford Anderson the Secretary of War in England, and Navy lieutenant James Heyward North on a secret mission to purchase weapons and supplies for the Confederacy, and to ascertain the loyalty of Captain Caleb Huse who was already in England.

Heyward was specifically tasked by Secretary of the Navy Stephen R. Mallory to purchase ready built ironclad vessels.

[1] She was armed with three smoothbore bronze cannon designed by John A. Dahlgren and cast at the Washington Navy Yard.

[1] On August 8, 1870, the Navy entered her in the America's Cup race at New York Harbor, where she finished fourth.

In the winter 1881, when she was lengthened 6 1/2 feet, Reid and Butler sailed her on a cruise to the West Indies returning to Boston in 1882.

Ames reconditioned America and used her occasionally for racing and casual sailing until 1901, when she fell into disuse and disrepair.

[19][20] A second replica of America was built in 1995 by Scarano Boatbuilding of Albany, NY for Ray Giovannoni and was operated by him for commercial events until his death.

In 2006 she was purchased by Troy Sears' company, Next Level Sailing, and her home port was moved to San Diego, California.