Sixteen tall ships sailed in New York Harbor for the 1976 Operation Sail celebration. The international maritime event formed part of the United States Bicentennial observances marking 200 years since the Declaration of Independence.
The ships gathered for a Grand Parade of Sailing Ships in New York. Participating vessels came from countries including Italy, Norway, Chile, Colombia, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and the United States. The American vessel Eagle was among the ships in the parade.
The sixteen tall ships were the principal square-rigged school ships listed for the event, separate from the much larger supporting fleet. Operation Sail's 1976 success helped establish a recurring tradition of international sailing celebrations. A planned 2026 OpSail is connected with the 250th anniversary, but the question concerns the completed Bicentennial event.