Operation Sail refers to a series of sailing events held to celebrate special occasions and features sailing vessels from around the world. Each event is coordinated by Operation Sail, Inc., a non-profit organization established in 1961 by U.S. President John F. Kennedy and must be approved by the United States Congress. Often referred to as OpSail or Op Sail, the event has the goals of promoting good will and cooperation between countries while providing sail training and celebrating maritime history. It is also sometimes erroneously referred to as "Tall Ships". While the tall ships form the centerpiece of the event, smaller sailing vessels also participate.

Op Sail events, when scheduled, are run concurrently with the annual International Naval Review, which features present-day warships from various navies. Six Op Sail events have been held to date, in 1964, 1976, 1986, 1992, 2000 and 2012. The event culminates in the Parade of Ships on the Hudson River and in New York Harbor on July 4, Independence Day. The United States Coast Guard cutter Eagle has been the host vessel to all six Op Sail events.

Along with Nils Hansell, Frank Braynard launched the world's first Operation Sail, an extravaganza in which tall ships and naval vessels filled New York Harbor, in 1964.

Contents

1 World's Fair Parade of Ships (1964)

1.1 Participation in 1964 Op Sail

2 Bicentennial Program (1976)

3 Salute to the Statue of Liberty (1986)

4 Columbus Quincentennial (1992)

5 Summer Millennium Celebration (2000)

6 War of 1812 and "The Star-Spangled Banner" Bicentennial (2012)

7 Gallery

8 References

9 External links

World's Fair Parade of Ships (1964)

The inaugural Opsail was a tie-in with the 1964 New York World's Fair. Operation sail 1964: Four years in the making, Operation Sail is an international effort to promote goodwill and to generate awareness of ships and shipping. It is a dream come true for sailing enthusiasts, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for anyone who is stirred by the sight of a square rigger under full sail.

Many nations maintain sailing ships in this machine age because they believe there is no better way to build character in young men than sail training. It encourages initiative, steadfastness, leadership and personal courage .... the records of the brotherhood of the sea sparkle with innumerable examples of the value of such training. The prestige of having served aboard a windjammer is no small matter.

To reach New York for the July 14 parade up the Hudson River, some of these tall ships will have sailed from their home ports as long ago as early March. Some will have raced from Plymouth, England, to Lisbon, Portugal, then 3000 miles across the Atlantic to Bermuda rendezvous, and a 630-mile northwest run, in company, to New York.

These ships are specifically built for training under sail. As these tall ships plough the oceans, the men who man this great fleet are helping to forge a bond of understanding and mutual respect around the world. As you visit the ships and talk with their officers, crews, and trainees, consider the thirteen participating nations, the thousands of people involved in such a gathering, the countless man hours spent in preparations which have resulted in this great spectacle OPERATION SAIL.

July 12: Ships anchor in designated order in Gravesend Bay.

July 13: 1430- Captains briefing aboard USCG 1730-2000: Reception at Chase Manhattan Bank.

July 14: 1100- Ships will depart Gravesend Bay and pass official reviewing vessel, USS Randolph, and then proceed to anchorages below the George Washington Bridge.

July 15: Ships move to assigned piers. 1400- Lifeboat races at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point. 1800- Commandant USCG reception.

July 16: 1200- Ticker tape parade from Battery Park to City Hall. 1400-1800- Ships open to Public.2000-0100- Grand Ball, Holland America Line Pier 40, and seamen's Church Institute.

July 17: 0900- Captains Symposium, Maritime Exchange. 1000-1800- Ships open to public. 1215- American Institute of Marine Underwriter's luncheon for Captains at India House.

July 18: World's Fair Day, Singer Bowl. Public invited. 1000-1800 Ships open to Public.

July 19: Divine Services Ships Depart.

(Taken from Operation sail guide book 1964.)

Participation in 1964 Op Sail

The participants scheduled to take part in the 1964 Operation Sail event included:[1][2]

Argentina, Libertad[a]

Canada, Bluenose II

Canada, St. Lawrence II

Chile, Esmeralda[a]

Denmark, Danmark[a]

Dominican Republic, Patria

Germany, Gorch Fock[a]

Germany, Peter von Danzig

Great Britain, Merlin

Great Britain, Tawau

Indonesia, Dewarutji[a]

Italy, Corsaro II

Norway, Christian Radich[a]

Norway, Sørlandet[a]

Norway, Statsraad Lehmkuhl[a]

Panama, Wandia

Poland, Iskra

Portugal, Sagres[a]

Romania, Mircea

Spain, Juan Sebastián de Elcano[a]

Sweden, Albatross

United States, Eagle[a][b]

Notes

 Windjammers' Parade

 Lead ship of the Windjammers' Parade

Bicentennial Program (1976)

Celebration of the United States Bicentennial, the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence. Of the relatively few tall ships that were in service around the world at the time, 16 sailed to New York to participate in the Grand Parade of Sailing Ships. Each of the ships flew a banner featuring the tricolor star insignia of the Bicentennial. They are referred to in the official program book[3] as the square-rigged school ships. In addition, there were 113 supporting vessels of the Op Sail Fleet listed in the program book.

Tall Ships Participating in the 1976 Grand Parade of Sailing Ships

Amerigo Vespucci (Italy)

Christian Radich (Norway)

Danmark (Denmark)

Dar Pomorza (Poland)

Eagle (United States)

Esmeralda (Chile)

Gazela Primeiro (US)

Gloria (Colombia)

Gorch Fock (Germany)

Juan Sebastián de Elcano (Spain)

Kruzenshtern (Soviet Union)

Libertad (Argentina)

Mircea (Romania)

Nippon Maru (Japan)

Sagres (Portugal)

Tovarishch (Soviet Union)

Op Sail Fleet (as of May 1976)

America

Amistad

Artemis

Astral

Barba Negra

Barbara

Bel Espoir II

Bill of Rights

Black Pearl

Bluenose II

Brilliant

Cameo of Looe

Caper

Carillon of Wight

Carola

Challenger

Charm III

Charis

Chief Aptakisic

Clearwater

Club Mediterranee

Cotton Blossom IV

Creidne

Dar Szczecina

Ebbie

Eendracht

Enchantress

Erawan

Erg

Erika

Eye of the Wind

Fly

Freedom

Galleon's Lap

Germania VI

Gypsy Moth V

Gladan

Glenan

Great Britain II

Hareida

Harvey Gamage

Henri

Hetman

Hudson Belle

Jacomina

Jade Dragon

Jolly Roger

Konstanty Maciejewicz

Kukri

Lindo

Lena Rose

Leonid Teliga

Magic venture

Maruffa

Mary E

Master Builder

Meka II

Meteor

Mitralis

Mon Lei

Nis-Puk

Norseman

Omaha

Outlaw

Pathfinder

Phoenix

Pioneer

Playfair

Polonez

Polski Len

Providence

Rachel and Ebenezer

Rattlesnake

Regina Maris

Rose

Roseway

Sabre

St. Lawrence II

St. Margaret II

Santa Maria

Saracen

Sayula II

Selina II

Sir Winston Churchill

Sherman Zwicker

Skookum II

Spirit of America

Spirit of '76

Stella Polare

Stoertebecker

Tappan Zee

Tenerife

Te Vega

The Empress

Transition

Ticonderoga

Tiki

Tina

Topaz

Unicorn

Urania

Vega

Veleda

Voyager

Walross III

Westward

White Dolphin III

William H. Albury

Wojewoda Koszalinski

Yellow Jacket

Zawisza Czarny

Zenobe Gramme

Zew Morza

Salute to the Statue of Liberty (1986)

Celebrating the Statue of Liberty centennial

Participants in the 1986 Parade of Ships

Eagle (USA)

Ernestina (United States)

Danmark (Denmark)

Christian Radich (Norway)

Libertad (Argentina)

Zenobe Gramme [nl] (Belgium)

Bluenose II (Canada)

Esmeralda (Chile)

Gloria (Colombia)

Guayas (Ecuador)

Belem (France)

Dewaruci (Indonesia)

Galaxy (Israel)

Amerigo Vespucci (Italy)

Cuauhtémoc (Mexico)

Sørlandet (Norway)

Shabab Oman (Oman)

Sagres (Portugal)

Juan Sebastián de Elcano (Spain)

Svanen of Stockholm (Sweden)

Calida (Scotland)[4]

Capitan Miranda (Uruguay)

Simon Bolivar (Venezuela)

Elissa (United States)

Gazela of Philadelphia (United States) Roseway (United States)