Sixteen tall ships joined Operation Sail’s Grand Parade in New York during the 1976 Bicentennial.
Operation Sail was created to bring sailing vessels from different countries together for maritime celebrations. Its 1976 program marked the 200th anniversary of American independence and featured a large gathering in New York Harbor. The event combined traditional sailing ships with a broader naval review.
The 16 tall ships were described in the official program as square-rigged school ships. They represented several nations, including Italy, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Chile, Colombia, and the United States. The vessels sailed in a highly visible parade watched by crowds along New York’s waterfront.
The 1976 fleet also included 113 supporting vessels, so the total event was larger than the tall-ship count alone. Operation Sail events are sometimes casually called “Tall Ships,” but Operation Sail is the name of the organizing series. Later editions took place in 1986, 1992, 2000, and 2012.