To Annapolis and Back Again: The Yacht America at the Naval Academy

  POSTED ON: Sunday, January 1, 2017 12:00 AM by Author

With sailing's prominence at the Naval Academy, it seems only fitting that the schooner yacht America, arguably the most famous racing sailboat of her day, became inextricably linked to the school. The America was laid down at the shipyard of William H. Brown in New York City and launched on May 3, 1851, having been financed by a group of investors led by New York Yacht Club Commodore John Cox Stephens. Sailing for Europe that June, the owners and crew issued several formal challenges to race in England. Those challenges left unanswered, the America finally raced on August 22, 1851, in a regatta around the Isle of Wight, hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron. Racing in a field of 15 schooners and cutters and witnessed by Queen Victoria, America won the race and the Hundred Guinea Cup trophy, the names of which were both changed to the America's Cup for the winner.

Yacht America under sail, likely during her ownership by the family Benjamin Butler.

Following the victory, the America was sold to British interests and remained a British racing yacht until the Civil War when her owner, Henry Edward Decie, purportedly attempted to sell the yacht to the Confederate government. After running Union blockades on several occasions, the America was scuttled in Dunn's Creek, north of Jacksonville, Florida. Raised by Union forces in March 1862, she was outfitted for service on the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, patrolling off Charleston. A year later, she was ordered to the United States Naval Academy at its wartime location in Newport, Rhode Island.

Arriving in Newport in May 1863, the America commenced duty as a training ship, serving as the tender to USS Marion during the academy's summer practice cruise of that year. From 1863 until 1866, she sailed with the academy's practice squadron while continuing to engage in wartime duty as the practice squadron boarded and searched vessels through the end of the Civil War, including 1864's hunt for CSS Florida.

1866 letter from David Dixon Porter regarding the needs of the America.

Following the 1866 practice cruise, America was laid up until December 1869, when she was sent to the Washington Navy Yard for overhaul. Months later, the America answered the challenge to defend the trophy that bore her name. On August 8, captained by Commander Richard W. Mead, Jr. and manned by a Navy crew, the America finished fourth, far outpacing the Royal Thames Yacht Club's Cambria, which had issued the challenge. Despite her strong showing, the Secretary of the Navy George M. Robeson decided to sell the America three years later, with Major General Benjamin Butler ultimately buying her.

Letter announcing the sale of the America by the Navy.

Used for both racing and cruising, the America stayed in the Butler family until 1917, when she was put up for sale. Although nearly secured by a group of Cape Verde merchants, America was ultimately purchased by a group of Bostonians led by Charles H. W. Foster with the intent of restoring the vessel. Following her purchase, momentum built to donate the yacht back to the Naval Academy. In the spring of 1921, The America Restoration Fund, in cooperation with the Eastern Yacht Club, raised the necessary funds for the yacht's restoration in short order, and offered the vessel back to the Navy.

Yacht America en route from Boston to Annapolis in 1921.

Rear Admiral Henry B. Wilson accepts the America from C. F. Adams.

On October 1, 1921, Rear Admiral Henry B. Wilson, Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, accepted the America on behalf of the Navy and paid the purchase price of one dollar. Shortly after the acceptance of the yacht, a material inspection was made of her, and in spring 1922, she was towed to the Washington Navy Yard for further restoration, including having her bottom coppered and cabin fixtures removed. Upon her return to the Naval Academy, she was given a permanent home in Dewey Basin.

Proposed alterations following America's transfer to the Naval Academy.

Yacht America at her berth in Dewey Basin in 1924.

By 1940, age and the elements had begun to take their toll on the America. In December of that year, she was pulled from the water at the Annapolis Yacht Yard where an inspection of the hull revealed the need for extensive repairs. In the summer of 1941, Congress, as the behest of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, appropriated $100,000 for the America's restoration.

Cover memo enclosing a report on the condition of America's hull.

America on the blocks at the Annapolis Yacht Yard in 1941.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, restoration work on the America ground to a halt. Months later, on March 29, 1942, the shed in which the America was stored collapsed during a snow storm, further damaging the already frail hull. After the war's end, the decision was finally made that the America could not be restored. The Navy subsequently contracted with the Annapolis Yacht Yard to dismantle what remained of the America in the winter of 1945-1946. During her dismantling, some of America's timber was salvaged for use in the construction of a model of her, which was presented to the Naval Academy Museum in 1948.

Sources:

Bruzek, Joseph C. The U.S. Schooner Yacht America. Annapolis, Md: United States Naval Academy Museum, 1968.

McNitt, Robert W. Sailing at the U.S. Naval Academy : an Illustrated History. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press, 1996.

Mooney, James L. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington: Naval Historical Center, Dept. of the Navy, 1991.

Naval Academy Photograph Collection, 1845-1983, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Office of the Superintendent/Correspondence: General Correspondence, Entry 39b, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library

Office of the Superintendent/Correspondence: Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Superintendent to Bureaus of the Navy Department, Entry 12, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library

Special Collections Transitional Picture File, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

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