Operation Sail was the tall-ship event held in New York for the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial.
The event, commonly called Op Sail, formed part of the celebration marking the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. A grand parade of sailing ships entered New York Harbor, creating a highly visible maritime centerpiece for the national anniversary. Sixteen tall ships from around the world took part, supported by 113 additional vessels listed in the official program.
Among the participating ships were Italy's Amerigo Vespucci, Germany's Gorch Fock, Spain's Juan Sebastián de Elcano, and Chile's Esmeralda. The gathering linked the Bicentennial to America's maritime history and to New York Harbor's role as a gateway. Operation Sail is sometimes confused with Fleet Week, a modern military tradition, but the 1976 event was specifically an international parade of sailing ships organized for the Bicentennial celebration.