Which city hosted the 1976 Operation Sail Grand Parade of Sailing Ships?

New York City hosted the 1976 Operation Sail Grand Parade of Sailing Ships during the United States Bicentennial.

Operation Sail, often abbreviated Op Sail, brought tall ships and naval vessels from many countries to the United States for a spectacular maritime celebration. In 1976, 16 tall ships sailed to New York for the Grand Parade of Sailing Ships, while 113 supporting vessels were listed in the official program. The gathering made New York Harbor one of the major settings for the Bicentennial.

The international fleet included vessels such as Italy's Amerigo Vespucci, Norway's Christian Radich, Poland's Dar Pomorza, Chile's Esmeralda, Colombia's Gloria, and the United States Coast Guard's Eagle. Each participating tall ship displayed the Bicentennial's tricolor star insignia.

Operation Sail also continued beyond New York. The fleet later gathered in Boston, roughly a week after the Independence Day events. That second appearance can cause confusion, but the Grand Parade of Sailing Ships specifically associated with the 1976 program took place in New York City.