What was the name of the 1976 tall-ship parade held for the United States Bicentennial?

The 1976 tall-ship parade held for the United States Bicentennial was called Operation Sail.

The event brought an international fleet of sailing vessels to New York Harbor for the 200th anniversary celebration. The ships assembled for a Grand Parade of Sailing Ships, creating one of the most visually memorable maritime events of the Bicentennial year.

Sixteen tall ships participated in the principal 1976 parade. They represented several nations and included vessels such as Italy’s Amerigo Vespucci, Norway’s Christian Radich, and the United States Coast Guard’s Eagle. Many additional supporting vessels were listed in the official fleet program.

Operation Sail was not the name of the entire Bicentennial celebration. It was a maritime program within the broader 1976 observances. The event also helped establish a recurring tradition of international tall-ship gatherings in New York Harbor.