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The Cape Verdean-American Ethnic Heritage Committee in Providence wrote to the President of Cape Verde inquiring whether it would be possible to send the Ernestina to America for the Bi-centennial. The President replied that he would ensure that everything possible would be done for the Ernestina to participate in Operation Sail 1976. The Ernestina was hauled; forty shipwrights, welders, mechanics and riggers worked on the vessel from seven am to seven pm for two weeks; a man was sent to Lisbon for new sails; seaman who had sailed on her and two students from the Mindelo Navigation School were selected for her crew; all that could be done to make her ready was undertaken. Only her masts (which had already caused concern to the surveyor) could not be replaced.

A news article appeared in the New Bedford Standard-Times on June 13, 1976:

Ernestina Research Ship Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, has accepted the honorary chairmanship of the "Save the Morrissey" campaign, an effort to raise funds for the restoration of the Effie M. Morrissey as a research vessel....The vessel is scheduled to participate in the "Tall Ships-Newport ‘76" program later this month in New port, RI.

The Ernestina is now privately owned and operated in the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa. Because of its historical importance to the United States, the owners have agreed to sell the ship to the Bartlett Exploration Association, Inc., so that it may continue in scientific voyages first pioneered by Capt. Bartlett. Following the "Tall Ships" participation, the Ernestina is scheduled to remain in the United States to be refitted as a research and training vessel.

The United Nations, together with the Bartlett Exploration Association and the Cape Verdean-American Ethnic Heritage Committee, are raising funds to support the program.

On June 11, 1976 the Ernestina set sail from the wharf of Porto Grande, Sao Vicente-destination New York for OpSail 1976. The captain was Marcos Lopes; first mate, Belmiro Barros; motorman, Amaro Salamao. Around midnight engine trouble developed. The motorman tried to repair the broken motor pump while the Ernestina continued sailing. He managed to get the engine running again but at 4 am the pump again broke down. This was confirmed by considerable increase of water in the bilges.

At the same time it was noticed that the rigging on the foremast was too slack so it was decided to head for the closest port, Tarrafal de Monte Trigo, Santo Antao to fix the engine and tighten the rigging. The wind picked up and the sea became stormy, rocking the ship, tossing the sails, stretching the rigging, breaking some deadeyes, and causing the shrouds to become looser. They dropped the foresail and lashed the boom in order to help the foremast hold. They radioed the M/V Wilma which was accompanying the Ernestina to come closer to tow her to safe harbor. By 8 am it was apparent the foremast was going to come down. Just as the crew was attaching the towline, the foremast cracked, falling into the sea taking with it the large mainmast with all the sails. Since both masts were pounding against the side, endangering the schooner, it was necessary to cut off all the rigging, letting the new sails sink beneath the sea. Fortunately no persons were lost or injured.

An article appeared in the Providence Journal-Bulletin, June 22, 1976:

Verdean Schooner Damaged Heavy winds off the Cape Verde Islands have toppled both masts of the historic windjammer Ernestina, shattering any hope of the ship’s participation in Operation Sail in New York City July 4.

The dismasting occurred about six miles off the coast of the island of Santo Antao just 10 hours after the Ernestina set sail for the United States June 11. Michael Platzer, a United Nations program management officer for Cape Verde, said yesterday.

Platzer, who returned from Cape Verde last weekend, said the storm destroyed the Ernestina’s rigging and shredded $5,000 worth of brand new sails which had been purchased in Lisbon especially for the voyage.

No one was injured in the dismasting, he said. Platzer said the ship carried 13 crewmen and two cadets from the Cape Verdean navigation school in the city of Mindelo on the island of Sao Vicente, which is Ernestina’s homeport.

"No one is more heartbroken than the people in Cape Verde," Platzer said.

The Ernestina was to have been the only known African ship in the gala parade of sail up New York Harbor on the United States 200th birthday.

After the dismasting in the Atlantic, the Friends of Ernestina/Morrissey Committee lead by Laura Pires Houston was officially launched in New York. At a meeting at the National Maritime Historical Society (NMHS) in Brooklyn, about forty-five people were in attendance. The officers and members of the committee included U.S. Senators Edward W. Brooke and Edward M. Kennedy along with Don Ramos, Chair of the Cape Verdean-American Ethnic Heritage Committee, Austin Colgate, veteran of Bartlett voyages, Tony Lopes, Providence Corporation, and Michael Platzer, Office of Technical Assistance, United Nations. Operating under the auspices of the National Maritime Historical Society, the Committee’s purposes were to: 1) create and maintain local support-building structures 2) raise funds for Ernestina’s restoration and return and 3) plan for her future use.

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