The 1976 fleet gathering of tall ships associated with the U.S. Bicentennial was called Operation Sail. The event brought an international collection of sailing vessels to American waters for the anniversary.
Operation Sail, often shortened to Op Sail, featured tall-masted ships and naval vessels. The ships gathered in New York Harbor on Independence Day, where President Gerald Ford reviewed the international fleet from the guided-missile cruiser USS Wainwright. The fleet later continued toward Boston.
The event became one of the most visually memorable parts of the Bicentennial because historic-style sailing ships from different countries filled the harbor. It connected the anniversary with maritime history and the ocean routes that shaped the Atlantic world.
A new Operation Sail was planned as part of the 2026 semiquincentennial, with port calls scheduled in cities including New Orleans, Norfolk, Baltimore, New York, and Boston.