On 12 September 1886 the NYYC successfully defended the America's Cup for the sixth time ("AC 6") when their yacht Mayflower defeated Britain’s Galatea in the second match of their first-to-win-two series. Mayflower's first win had come five days earlier on 7 September.

Mayflower was 100' and had a broad beam and shallow draft that was referred to as a "skimming dish."

Mayflower was designed by Edward Burgess who had also designed Puritan which had successfully defended the Cup the previous year against Britain's Genesta, 2-0. A Burgess yacht also won again in 1887 when his Volunteer defeated the Scottish entry Thistle 2-0.

According to historian A.J. Peluso, "In September 1886 newspapers ran breathless accounts of the latest America's Cup challenge. Like all others, before and after, they were high-stakes yacht races: America against the Empire. The challenge and the positive patriotic results became validating symbols of national pride, pride in which all could partake, whatever one's 'station'.... Galatea's loser-owner Lieutenant William Henn (Royal Navy, retired) and his wife were unbowed. They stayed in America for a year, entertained by the gracious winners."

N.B. Running the America's Cup in successive years is not without precedent.