Sixteen square-rigged tall ships sailed to New York for Operation Sail during the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial.
Operation Sail 1976 was a maritime centerpiece of the United States' 200th-anniversary celebrations. The ships gathered for a Grand Parade of Sailing Ships in New York Harbor, creating an international display linked to the earlier history of sailing and exploration.
The participating vessels represented countries including Italy, Norway, Poland, Chile, Colombia, Spain, Argentina, Romania, Portugal, and the United States. The official program also listed 113 supporting vessels in the wider Op Sail fleet.