Operation Sail was the 1976 tall-ship celebration that gathered first in New York Harbor.
Often shortened to Op Sail, Operation Sail was an international maritime event held as part of the United States Bicentennial. Tall ships and naval vessels from several countries assembled for a grand parade in New York on Independence Day, July 4, 1976. The spectacle linked the anniversary to America’s maritime history and its position as a major Atlantic nation.
Sixteen tall ships took part in the principal sailing-ship parade, alongside a much larger supporting fleet. Participating vessels included Italy’s Amerigo Vespucci, Norway’s Christian Radich, Poland’s Dar Młodzieży predecessor Dar Pomorza, and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Eagle.
Operation Sail is sometimes confused with Fleet Week, but the two are different kinds of events. Fleet Week is primarily a military-community observance, while Operation Sail centers on an international parade of sailing ships. The 1976 event later continued to influence recurring Op Sail celebrations in New York and elsewhere.