What event filled New York Harbor with tall ships for the 1976 United States Bicentennial?

Operation Sail 1976 filled New York Harbor with tall ships and naval vessels for the United States Bicentennial. The maritime celebration culminated on July 4, 1976, when an international fleet paraded past dignitaries and enormous crowds.

The event brought sailing ships from many countries to New York after an ocean race and a coordinated arrival. It was paired with an International Naval Review, allowing President Gerald Ford to review American and foreign warships from the deck of USS Forrestal. The spectacle linked the nation’s anniversary to its maritime history.

Sources describe dozens of naval vessels and a much larger collection of sailing and spectator craft in the harbor. Operation Sail was not limited to 1976: related events had begun in 1964 and were held again for later anniversaries, including the Statue of Liberty centennial in 1986. The year in the answer distinguishes the Bicentennial edition from those other gatherings.