New Jersey residents can expect to be right in the middle of one of the largest maritime celebrations in modern American history as the 2026 NYC Op Sail / Sail4th 250 brings an international fleet of tall ships and naval vessels, along with ceremonial events, into New York Harbor. This is not simply a Manhattan event. The entire Port of New York and New Jersey region will be involved, with ships arriving through waters visible from many New Jersey shorelines and waterfront communities.
One of the highlights will be the massive July 4 Parade of Sail, when famous ships from around the world, including giant sailing vessels from countries such as Spain, Poland, Portugal, Italy, Peru, and the United States, are expected to pass beneath the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, around the Statue of Liberty, and through the harbor. New Jerseyans may enjoy excellent viewing opportunities from locations such as Liberty State Park, Hoboken, Jersey City, Bayonne, Sandy Hook, and other Hudson and harbor waterfronts. Many ships are also expected to offer public tours and boarding opportunities during the celebration.
UPDATE:
Likely Participants, Sequence, and Sail250 birth
Subject to Change
| Est Parade Seq | Ship | Country | Type / Class | Length (ft) | Built | Predicted Berth | Confidence |
| 1 | USCGC Eagle | USA | Class A – Barque | 295 | 1936 | Manhattan (Hudson River Piers) | High |
| 2 | Amerigo Vespucci | Italy | Class A – Full-Rigged Ship | 329 | 1931 | Manhattan (Hudson River Piers) | Medium |
| 3 | Juan Sebastián de Elcano | Spain | Class A – Topsail Schooner | 371 | 1927 | Manhattan (Hudson River Piers) | Medium |
| 4 | ARA Libertad | Argentina | Class A – Full-Rigged Ship | 341 | 1963 | Manhattan (Hudson River Piers) | Medium |
| 5 | BAP Unión | Peru | Class A – Four-Masted Barque | 379 | 2015 | Manhattan (Hudson River Piers) | Medium |
| 6 | Esmeralda | Chile | Class A – Barquentine | 371 | 1954 | Manhattan (Hudson River Piers) | Medium |
| 7 | Dar Młodzieży | Poland | Class A – Full-Rigged Ship | 357 | 1982 | Brooklyn Bridge Park | Low |
| 8 | Sagres | Portugal | Class A – Barque | 294 | 1937 | Brooklyn Bridge Park | Low |
| 9 | Gorch Fock | Germany | Class A – Barque | 295 | 1958 | Brooklyn Bridge Park | Low |
| 10 | Mircea | Romania | Class A – Barque | 266 | 1938 | Brooklyn Bridge Park | Low |
| 11 | Cuauhtémoc | Mexico | Class A – Barque | 295 | 1982 | Staten Island Homeport | Low |
| 12 | Gloria | Colombia | Class A – Barque | 212 | 1968 | Staten Island Homeport | Low |
| 13 | Guayas | Ecuador | Class A – Barque | 257 | 1977 | Staten Island Homeport | Low |
| 14 | Bima Suci | Indonesia | Class A – Barque | 365 | 2017 | Staten Island Homeport | Low |
| 15 | Dewaruci | Indonesia | Class A – Barque | 190 | 1953 | Staten Island Homeport | Low |
| 16 | Oosterschelde | Netherlands | Class A – Topsail Schooner | 164 | 1918 | South Street Seaport | Medium |
| 17 | Bluenose II | Canada | Class A – Schooner | 143 | 1963 | South Street Seaport | Medium |
| 18 | Pride of Baltimore II | USA | Class A – Topsail Schooner | 157 | 1988 | South Street Seaport | Medium |
| 19 | Ernestina-Morrissey | USA | Class A – Schooner | 156 | 1894 | South Street Seaport | Medium |
| 20 | Spirit of Bermuda | Bermuda | Class A – Schooner | 118 | 2006 | Jersey City / Liberty Landing | Low |
| 21 | Picton Castle | Cook Islands Registry | Class A – Barque | 179 | 1928 | Jersey City / Liberty Landing | Low |
| 22 | Statsraad Lehmkuhl | Norway | Class A – Barque | 322 | 1914 | Bayonne / Cape Liberty | Low |
| 23 | Cisne Branco | Brazil | Class A – Full-Rigged Ship | 250 | 2000 | Bayonne / Cape Liberty | Low |
| 24 | Capitán Miranda | Uruguay | Class A – Schooner | 205 | 1930 | Bayonne / Cape Liberty | Low |
Beyond the ships themselves, New Jersey can expect waterfront festivals, patriotic programming, maritime displays, concerts, military participation, and heavy tourism activity tied to America’s 250th anniversary. Communities across the region are preparing related events, and some New Jersey locations are planning their own celebrations connected to the harbor festivities. Visitors should anticipate very large crowds, traffic, and busy transit systems, but also a rare chance to witness a once-in-a-generation gathering of some of the world’s most famous tall ships close to home.
The USCGC Eagle will serve as the flagship of the America 250 maritime celebrations, leading the Parade of Sail into New York Harbor on July 4, 2026, as part of the national Sail250 tour. As “America’s Tall Ship,” it will visit major port cities, host public tours, and engage in educational outreach celebrating the nation’s seafaring legacy.
To a sailor, one of the most impressive sights is to see a classic tall ship under sail. It has to be one of the most remarkable sights ever. And if you want to take a trip aboard the Eagle, booking a trip is simple…. fill out an application to join the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, get accepted, and you’re in for a free ride!
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, known as “America’s Tall Ship,” is normally homeported in New London, Conn., where visitors often wait in long lines to walk her decks. When in port, the tall ship Eagle is open for tours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call (860) 444-8595 for more information and directions to Coast Guard Station New London.
Take a look:
The USCGC EAGLE serves as a seagoing classroom for future Coast Guard officers. A permanent crew of six officers and 48 enlisted men and women maintains the ship year-round and provides a strong base of knowledge and seamanship for the training of up to 150 cadets or officer candidates at a time. The Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, built the USCGC Eagle, named initially Horst Wessel, in 1936 as a training vessel for German naval cadets.
| Name | Country | Size | Type / Fame Level | Participating NYC Sail 250 |
| USCGC Eagle | United States | 295 ft | America’s Tall Ship / legendary Op Sail vessel | YES |
| Juan Sebastián de Elcano | Spain | 371 ft | World famous Spanish Navy flagship | YES |
| Dar Młodzieży | Poland | 354 ft | One of world’s great training ships | YES |
| NRP Sagres | Portugal | 292 ft | Famous Portuguese Navy barque | YES |
| Mircea | Romania | 269 ft | Historic Op Sail veteran / Eagle sister ship | YES |
| BAP Unión | Peru | 378 ft | One of world’s largest modern tall ships | YES |
| Esmeralda | Chile | 371 ft | World famous Chilean Navy flagship | YES |
| Gorch Fock | Germany | 266 ft | Legendary German Navy training ship | YES |
| Cuauhtémoc | Mexico | 297 ft | Mexico’s famous “Ambassador of the Seas” | LIKELY |
| ARC Gloria | Colombia | 212 ft | Major Latin American naval tall ship | YES |
| Guayas | Ecuador | 257 ft | Well known Ecuadorian Navy tall ship | LIKELY |
| Capitán Miranda | Uruguay | 210 ft | Historic Uruguayan naval sail trainer | LIKELY |
| HMS Gladan | Sweden | 131 ft | Swedish Navy training ship | YES |
| INS Sudarshini | India | 180 ft | Indian Navy sail training vessel | LIKELY |
| Oosterschelde | Netherlands | 164 ft | World famous Dutch expedition schooner | YES |
| Elissa | United States | 141 ft | One of world’s best known preserved tall ships | YES |
| Ernestina Morissey | United States | 156 ft | Historic US and Cape Verdean icon | YES |
| Lynx | United States | 122 ft | Famous War of 1812 privateer replica | LIKELY |
| When And If | United States | 63.5 ft | General Patton’s schooner | YES |
| Angelique | United States | 130 ft | Well known Maine ketch | YES |
| Harvey Gamage | United States | 131 ft | Youth training schooner | YES |
| Pioneer | United States | 102 ft | South Street Seaport Museum ship | VERY LIKELY |
| A.J. Meerwald | United States | 115 ft | Official tall ship of New Jersey | POSSIBLE |
| Belle Poule | France | 123 ft | Historic French Navy schooner | LIKELY |
| Amerigo Vespucci | Italy | 331 ft | Arguably world’s most famous tall ship | CONFIRMED / EXPECTED |
| Libertad | Argentina | 338 ft | Legendary Argentine Navy sail training ship | CONFIRMED / EXPECTED |
| Picton Castle | Cook Islands | 179 ft | World voyaging barque | CONFIRMED / EXPECTED |
| Juan Bautista Cambiaso | Dominican Republic | 165 ft | Dominican Republic Navy training ship | CONFIRMED / EXPECTED |
| Bima Suci | Indonesia | 365 ft | Indonesian Navy tall ship | CONFIRMED / EXPECTED |
| Tuiga | Monaco | 92 ft | Historic luxury racing yacht / famous classic vessel | CONFIRMED / EXPECTED |
| Sedov | Russia | 384 ft | World’s largest traditional sailing ship | NO / UNLIKELY |
| Kruzenshtern | Russia | 376 ft | Giant Russian barque / world famous | NO / UNLIKELY |
| Statsraad Lehmkuhl | Norway | 322 ft | Major Norwegian ocean going training ship | UNKNOWN |
| Cisne Branco | Brazil | 250 ft | Brazilian Navy showpiece | UNKNOWN |
| Alexander von Humboldt II | Germany | 213 ft | Famous green sailed German ship | UNKNOWN |
| Christian Radich | Norway | 240 ft | Legendary Norwegian full rigged ship | UNKNOWN |
| Star Clipper | Malta | 379 ft | Modern luxury tall ship celebrity | NO EVIDENCE |
| Royal Clipper | Malta | 439 ft | Largest square rigger in service | NO EVIDENCE |
Eagle Crew Description: A permanent crew of six officers and 48 enlisted men and women maintains the ship year-round and provides a strong base of knowledge and seamanship for training up to 150 cadets or officer candidates at a time.
Name: USCGC EAGLE
Class: A
Rig: Barque
Homeport city: New London, Connecticut
Year built: 1936
Shipyard: Hamburg, Germany
Tonnage: 1,800 tons
Power: sail
Length Over All: 295′
Sail area: 21,000 sq. ft.
Crew size: 54
For additional information, website
USCG Campus – New London, CT
The campus is in New London, Connecticut, on the western shore of the Thames River. It has 26 buildings on 120 acres. Halfway between New York City and Boston, Massachusetts, the Academy is easily accessible by plane, train, bus, or car.
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
31 Mohegan Ave.
New London, CT 06320
For hours and tours, Click Here
Where Will the Eagle Land Next?
The US Coast Guard’s training ship is one of the best examples of active tall ships on the planet.
Check the USCG website to learn when the Eagle is in port.
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Greetings!
My son is in the Coast Guard and is retiring. I would like to make a banner for his retirement celebration. I truly like the Eagle tall ship photo on your website. May I use it for creating the banner?
I would be very appreciative and thankful if you allow me to use it.
Kit
If you are looking for a real banner, you have to contact the appropriate town. If you’d like a virtual version, we’d need you to send in your email address, details and photo. Thanks for writing.