USCGC Eagle is designated the flagship for the 2026 Operation Sail events honoring the U.S. semiquincentennial.
Operation Sail, commonly called OpSail, is a series of international sailing events featuring tall ships and naval vessels. Its events have marked major occasions, including the 1964 New York World’s Fair and the 1976 United States Bicentennial.
Eagle is a United States Coast Guard barque used for sail training. It was launched in Germany in 1936 as Horst Wessel and was acquired by the United States after World War II. The Coast Guard commissioned it as Eagle in 1946.
The 2026 OpSail program is planned to include port calls in New Orleans, Norfolk, Baltimore, New York City, and Boston. The ship’s role as flagship does not mean it is the largest vessel in the fleet; it identifies the vessel serving as the principal ceremonial leader of the maritime celebration.