In 1995, Bill Koch revamped the program to begin the first nearly all-female, America's Cup boat. America's successor, Mighty Mary, was on her way to a race-off with Young America, the boat of the third syndicate that year, to determine who went through to the 1995 America's Cup, in the lead of what ended up being the last race of the Defender Series over Stars & Stripes. 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 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 Young America to defend the cup, losing to Team New Zealand, 5–0.
