Operation Sail brought tall-masted sailing ships to New York City for the 1976 United States Bicentennial. The international fleet parade was one of the most visually striking events of the anniversary celebrations.
The ships gathered in New York City on Independence Day, July 4, 1976. President Gerald Ford sailed down the Hudson River aboard a guided-missile cruiser to review the international fleet and receive salutes from visiting vessels.
The Bicentennial celebration also included a later gathering in Boston. Operation Sail connected the anniversary to maritime history and international friendship, while the naval review added an official military dimension to the spectacle in New York Harbor.