An unprecedented fleet of historic sailboats sailed down the Hudson River this Saturday to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence, turning it into one of the most impressive maritime spectacles in modern history.
The largest fleet ever assembled for such an event —48 large sailboats representing 20 foreign nations, with a total of 44 countries present in the harbor— sailed from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the George Washington Bridge, passing by the Statue of Liberty.
The event, called Sail4th 250, took place from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM, with the fleet parading in front of the Intrepid Museum around 11:00 AM.
It is estimated that around six million spectators along 15 miles of coastline witnessed the passage of the sailing boats, in a day that will be recorded as the fourth time New York has hosted this type of naval review and the seventh nationally, following those of 1976, 1986, and 2000.
Among the participating ships were Spain's Juan Carlos I, Germany's FGS Sachsen, South Korea's Munmu the Great, Chile's La Esmeralda, the historic Italian sailing ship Americo Vespucci, and a training ship from Ecuador, among many others.
Complementing the maritime parade, more than 120 military aircraft from the United States and allied countries flew over the Hudson in a historic air review.
The Blue Angels of the U.S. Navy led the parade, while the Patrouille de France —the aerobatic squadron of the French Air Force— traced the colors red, white, and blue over the river, passing in front of the World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty as part of the mission "Liberté 250," which commemorates France's support of the American War of Independence.
The Vice President JD Vance participated as an official reviewer aboard the destroyer USS Farragut during the International Naval Review 250, which runs from July 3 to 8, featuring over 70 warships from the United States and allies, including the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge.
One of the most viral moments of the day was a formation in which hundreds of boats organized on the water to create a gigantic American flag visible from the air, an image that circulated widely on social media.
The celebrations of “Freedom 250” in New York are part of a nationwide commemoration day that included the 50th anniversary of Macy's fireworks display, launched from the East River and the Hudson River, as well as a Guinness World Record of 860,000 fireworks effects in 40 minutes at the National Mall in Washington D.C.
The estimated economic impact of Sail4th 250 for New York City amounts to 2.85 billion dollars, according to data collected by Telemundo Atlanta, making this event one of the most profitable in the city's recent history.
The French participation has a special symbolic dimension: France was a key ally of the American colonies during the War of Independence (1775-1783), providing funding, troops, and military leadership.
The "Liberté 250" mission of the Patrouille de France explicitly honors that historical connection, concluding with a gesture of transatlantic friendship in a celebration that Fox News itself described as "the greatest American pride."
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