Sixteen tall ships took part in the 1976 Operation Sail parade for the United States Bicentennial.
Operation Sail, often shortened to Op Sail, brought sailing vessels from several nations into New York Harbor for a maritime celebration on July 4, 1976. The event was held alongside an international naval review and formed one of the most visually striking Bicentennial observances.
The 16 principal tall ships were described as square-rigged school ships in the official program. They included the United States Coast Guard cutter Eagle and famous vessels such as Italy’s Amerigo Vespucci, Norway’s Christian Radich, and Chile’s Esmeralda. Many additional smaller and supporting vessels also participated.
The number 16 refers to the featured tall ships, not every vessel in the wider fleet. That distinction matters because the 1976 Operation Sail fleet also included 113 supporting vessels listed in the program book. Operation Sail returned for later commemorations, including the planned 2026 America250 maritime events.