The America was designed according to the specifications of the fastest pilot boat in New York harbor. Pilot boats had to be very fast because the first pilot to reach an incoming ship got the job of bringing the vessel in the harbor, and thus was the only vessel to receive the pilot's fee.
The America was designed to excel in terms of speed, much like the fast pilot boats that dominated New York harbor. The pilot who could navigate a vessel into the harbor the quickest would be rewarded with the exclusive right to receive the pilot's fee.