Erie News Now has confirmed with officials from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission that the Brig Niagara, that Pennsylvania's Flagship will sail the Great Lakes again this summer.

Because of concerns over COVID-19, Niagara hasn't sailed since 2019 -- except to travel to dry dock in Cleveland for some critical maintenance and repairs.

In a news release issued in December by the Flagship Niagara League, as the freshly repaired and repainted brig returned to the Port of Erie, officials said, "Once inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard, dockside tours will resume at the Erie Maritime Museum.  Next year, (2022) Niagara will return to her normal schedule of sail training and sailing to all five Great Lakes as part of Tall Ships Challenge in 2022."

The PHMC said Niagara is also expected to join in the return of the Tall Ships Erie Festival scheduled in August, barring any pandemic issues.

Billy Sabatini, Executive Director and Fleet Captain at the Flagship Niagara League can't wait to begin sailing again.  He said that's what makes the Niagara Pennsylvania's ambassador of the Great Lakes.  

The current Niagara, the third reconstruction of the original vessel, was launched in Erie in 1988 for the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie.

According to the Niagara Sail On Board website, Niagara sails the Great Lakes, preserving and interpreting the story of the Battle of Lake Erie, and acting as an ambassador in her capacity as the flagship of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As a Sailing School Vessel, her crew of professionals and trainees actively preserve the skills of square-rig seamanship.

The Flagship Niagara League is a 501 (C) 3, non-profit educational associate organization of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), chartered to facilitate citizen participation and operation of the U.S. Brig Niagara and its homeport, Erie Maritime Museum.

Periodically the Flagship Niagara League renews its associate organization agreement with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.  Several sources tell Erie News Now that the process of finalizing a new agreement is underway and is expected to be completed in mid-February.

In a joint statement Andrea Lowery, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and Scott Nick, Board President of the Flagship Niagara League said:

Last week representatives of the Flagship Niagara League (FNL) and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) met to discuss the ongoing negotiations between the two organizations. The discussion was positive with the FNL and PHMC committing to sailing the
Flagship Niagara this season and presenting a successful Tall Ships Erie. Details continue to be worked out between both organizations with a public announcement of the sailing schedule and other exciting plans expected later this month.