In which city did the 1976 Operation Sail fleet first gather for the Bicentennial?

The 1976 Operation Sail fleet first gathered in New York City for the Bicentennial. The international parade of sailing ships culminated in New York Harbor on Independence Day, July 4, 1976.

Operation Sail featured tall ships and other sailing vessels from around the world. The event was paired with an International Naval Review, in which modern warships from several nations assembled in the harbor.

President Gerald Ford reviewed the international fleet from the guided-missile cruiser USS Wainwright. The naval review ended near Liberty Island, adding a presidential and military dimension to the maritime celebration.

The fleet later gathered in Boston about a week after the New York event. That second gathering can cause confusion, but New York City was the first location in the 1976 Bicentennial program.