Operation Sail was the name of the 1976 tall-ship celebration in New York Harbor, a notable predecessor to America250 events.
Often shortened to Op Sail, the event brought sailing ships from many nations to New York Harbor for the United States Bicentennial. The international fleet parade took place on July 4, 1976, and formed one of the most visually distinctive parts of the anniversary celebrations.
President Gerald Ford reviewed the international fleet aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Wainwright. The ships gathered near New York City and helped connect the Bicentennial with maritime history, international friendship, and the country’s revolutionary-era origins.
Operation Sail is different from the American Freedom Train, which toured the country by rail, and America on Parade, a themed attraction presented at Disney parks. The name also should not be confused with modern Fleet Week, a recurring military and public-relations event.