The 1976 Operation Sail tall-ship gathering first assembled in New York City for the United States Bicentennial.
Operation Sail, often shortened to Op Sail, brought an international fleet of tall-masted sailing ships to American waters on July 4, 1976. The ships gathered in New York Harbor for a major maritime celebration associated with the 200th anniversary.
The fleet later sailed to Boston, where additional Bicentennial events took place. The New York gathering included an international naval review attended by President Gerald Ford, who reviewed the visiting vessels from a guided-missile cruiser.
Operation Sail became a recurring maritime tradition. The 2026 America250 observance is planned to include another major tall-ship gathering, with port calls in several American cities, including New York City and Boston.