Tall ships will hoist sails in N.Y.

Twenty-four years ago, President Ford stood on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Forrestal, anchored near the Statue of Liberty in New York’s harbor, and rang a replica of the Liberty Bell to celebrate the nation’s bicentennial.

The script called for him to sound the bell 13 times, once for each of the original colonies.

But as a mighty naval armada--punctuated by a parade of stately tall ships with sails unfurled--moved through water-spraying fireboats, the president got carried away. He kept ringing the bell.

White House aides, whose job it was to guard against gaffes, only smiled at Ford’s enthusiasm--which was shared by millions of cheering spectators lining both banks of the Hudson River.

On July 4th, President Clinton is scheduled to stand on the flight deck of the carrier John F. Kennedy at a similar anchorage to review what organizers are billing as the largest gathering of sailing vessels and warships in history.

“This event,” said Charles A. Robertson, chairman of the board of trustees of OpSail 2000, “reminds people that the United States is a maritime nation and flourished in its early years as a maritime power.

“It is historic because it brings more countries, more young people, more ships together than any other event of its kind, ever.”

The parade into the harbor will include more than 150 tall ships and classic sailing vessels and some three dozen warships. About 28,000 sailors from more than 50 countries will participate.

Coast Guard officials expect more than 50,000 boats carrying spectators to attend. Many are likely to remain into the evening to view what Macy’s promises to be its biggest fireworks display.

Security planning for the events began three years ago. Anticipating the magnitude of OpSail 2000, Clinton designated it as a “national security event,” which automatically increased the resources available.

More than 7,500 police will be deployed, along with thousands of federal agents and Coast Guard personnel. A 100-yard safety zone will surround all the warships. Police using craft ranging from launches and helicopters to Jet Skis will patrol the harbor. Plans also call for divers to sweep the piers where the ships will dock for explosives.

Before viewing the procession of tall ships, the president will travel down the Hudson aboard the missile cruiser Hue City, reviewing the assembled military flotilla. A 21-gun salute is to sound as Clinton finishes trooping the line.

As in the past, the three-masted Coast Guard training bark Eagle--OpSail’s flagship--will lead the parade of sailing vessels into the harbor, passing beneath the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge linking Brooklyn with Staten Island.

The procession will include the Gazela--the oldest wooden square-rigger in active service, which was built in Portugal in 1883. Also taking part will be the Armistad, a replica of a slave ship.

After sailing past the John F. Kennedy, the parade will move 15 miles up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge, which connects New York with New Jersey. The armada will then turn south to docks throughout the harbor.

Clinton’s choice of the carrier as the official viewing platform is symbolic.

It was President Kennedy who established Operation Sail in 1961 as a maritime vehicle to promote training, cultural exchanges and friendship among nations.

“The sight of so many ships gathered from the distant corners of the world for Operation Sail should remind us that strong, disciplined and adventuresome men still can find their way safely across uncertain and stormy seas,” Kennedy said, explaining the group’s philosophy.

The first OpSail was held to celebrate the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. Seven huge sailing ships took part in that event. Larger numbers of vessels returned for the bicentennial celebration in 1976 and for the Statue of Liberty’s 100th birthday in 1986.

After the millennium celebration is completed, OpSail is planning an event in four or five years on the West Coast. Robertson said details will be announced in August.