NYC's Parade of Ships will be largest maritime gathering in American history: What to know
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The Sail4th 250 flotilla will enter New York Harbor in waves this week, with the main military might arriving July 3 for a two-day extravaganza to celebrate the American colonies' declaration of independence from King George III in 1776.
It will be the largest maritime and aerial gathering in American history.
About 80 vessels, more than 40 tall ships with white sails, about 32 warships and perhaps even the U.S.S. Nimitz, one of the Navy's limited supply of aircraft carriers, will be joined by nearly 200 military aircraft overhead.
And 20,000 sailors -- 10 times the number of the average Fleet Week -- will be greeted by July 4th crowds that will watch the ships arrive during the day and fireworks at night.
Chris O'Brien, the president of Sail4th 250, is working with more than 1,000 people from different agencies planning the monumental event.
"Certain ships have to dock at certain times because of the tides," he said.
On July 3, starting at 1 p.m. head to the East River where about two dozen Class B or medium sized vessels will sail down that waterway.
Then on July 4 around 9:30 a.m., roughly 40 tall ships from the U.S. and around the world will travel from the Verrazano Bridge up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge along 15 miles of waterfront.
"We have to maintain the speed of the parade, the safe navigating distance between the ships, 1,200 yards and they'll move at six knots," O'Brien said.
Leading Saturday's extravaganza will be the Coast Guard cutter Eagle, followed by ships lined up in alphabetical order.
O'Brien said each needs very specific docking arrangements.
"Some are a little bit older, some are a little bit newer, but we want to be very careful because these ships are basically like the crown jewels of the countries that own them," O'Brien said.
They are all official training vessels on an international goodwill mission to celebrate America's birthday.
In 1976, the bicentennial, crowds gathered along the New York Harbor to see the parade of ships and again in 2000.
But this year's is expected to top all of that with a fleet that really reflects our diversity.
"Those local communities are going to come out and support that ship, meet those sailors from their home country," O'Brien said.
O'Brien said when all is said and done it will leave an enormous sense of pride that New York City was able to welcome the world like this.
"As a sailor coming into New York Harbor on a tall ship on the Fourth of July with millions of people watching, you don't want to be anywhere else," O'Brien said.
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